Darren Freeman may end his self-imposed exile from Withdean tomorrow night.

The retired Albion marksman is considering whether to attend the game against his old club Brentford.

Freeman has been unable to bring himself to watch a match since recurring hernia problems forced him to quit in August.

"The club and the gaffer have invited me back to watch a game," Freeman said. "I have got dressed to go a couple of times, but I haven't been able to go through with it.

"I am in two minds whether to go on Friday or not. I really want to, but my feelings might change.

"I think it would be good for me to go to a match and this might be the one, seeing as it is against my old club."

Freeman, 28, is recovering from a fourth hernia op. "I had a little bit of an infection, but they gave me some anitbiotics and everything is fine," he revealed.

"It's now just getting my head around the fact that I am not going to be playing football. It is still hard to accept, but so many people have been good to me.

"It's going to be a bigger battle coming to terms with it than any of the injuries I've had. I have good days and bad days, but I am trying to be positive."

Freeman's morale received a welcome boost on Monday night when he went out for a meal with his former Albion team-mates.

"It's the first time I have seen them all together since my retirement," he said.

"It was nice to see all the boys again. It meant an awful lot to me and they paid for my meal, which made it even better!"