Steve Melton is no longer Albion's Mister Blobby. It has nothing to do with his size. In fact, the midfielder weighs in at only just over 12 stones.

It's just that Melton had become accustomed to seeing a black blob by his name in the matchday programme, denoting a used substitute. Either that or a triangle, indicating an unused sub.

Melton had been on the bench for every match this season except last month's trip to Kidderminster, when a knock ruled him out, and a place in a makeshift side against Cardiff in the LDV Vans Trophy.

A six-month wait for his first League start finally ended in unusual circumstances at Torquay last Saturday.

Melton was prepared for yet another game among the replacements until Richard Carpenter aggravated an ankle injury.

"I found out I was playing about 20 minutes before the kick-off," he explained. "The manager called me over during the warm-up. I'd heard 'Chippy' had been struggling with his ankle and woke up with it pretty sore.

"I was just told to keep myself warm and ready. Then I got called over and was told I was in. I didn't have time to think about it or get nervous. It all happened so quickly."

Micky Adams was full of praise afterwards for the part played by Melton in Albion's first triumph at Torquay for 36 years.

It made a pleasant change for him to be involved in the action for 90 minutes after a dozen abbreviated appearances off the bench.

"It was nice to hear he was pleased with the way I performed," Melton said. "Any praise is good coming from the manager.

"I thought I could have done better though, especially in the first half. I was getting into some decent positions, but things didn't quite click around the edge of the box.

"It has been frustrating for me. But when the team is performing like they have been there is not much me or anyone else can do.

"You have just got to accept that the team is doing well. We have been in second position for most of the season and that's just the way it goes.

"It's part of the job. You just have to get on with it."

Adams appreciates Melton's value as a member of Albion's promotion-chasing squad.

The pair were together at Nottingham Forest before he signed the 22-year-old last summer on a one-year contract.

Melton's favourite position is in the middle of the park, but Adams has played him at rightback in the reserves while Paul Watson has been on the brink of a ban.

That was a role the Lincoln-born youngster filled a couple of times in Forest's reserves and during a stint at Stoke towards the end of last season.

"I prefer to play in midfield," he said. "You are more involved, but I'm just pleased if I am part of the starting eleven. My aim now is to stay in the team. Obviously I would have liked to have played a bit more, but I've just had to bide my time.

"I'm enjoying it here. I've settled in with the lads and I share a house with some of them."

Melton hopes to continue his partnership with Adams and Albion next season, in the Second Division.

"I think Micky is going to be a really good manager," he added. "I enjoy working with him. A lot of the lads do.

"Hopefully he will take Brighton up. He's had a taste of managing at a higher level at Forest and I think he has the potential to do it again."