Albion manager Mark McGhee today told fans not to regard Jake Robinson as a relegation saviour.
The teenage marksman is in contention for a place on the bench against Leicester tomorrow after being recalled from a prolific loan spell with Nationwide Conference play-off candidates Aldershot.
Robinson was poised to spearhead the Shots' attack against Crawley at the Recreation Ground tomorrow until Albion's striker crisis deepened in Tuesday's 3-0 defeat by Preston at Deepdale.
McGhee already knew he would be without Leon Knight through suspension for the Leicester game and the trip to Burnley a week tomorrow.
Last season's top scorer collected his tenth booking at Coventry six days ago.
Knight's absence was compounded when Gary Hart was sent-off for the challenge which led to Preston's opening goal from the penalty spot.
Robinson had been recalled even before Albion discovered yesterday that their appeal against Hart's red card has been turned down.
Hart also misses the next two matches, as he was sent-off earlier in the season for the reserves.
McGhee had no hesitation in calling back Robinson, with Adam Virgo, Mark McCammon and Maheta Molango the only front men available in his depleted squad.
"Jake has done well at Aldershot," McGhee said. "I'm not saying he will come back and be the one to keep us up, but we at least need an option and Jake offers us that.
"He looked sharp in training yesterday morning and we are encouraged by that, certainly from my point of view in putting Jake on the bench now.
"Prior to him going away I didn't think he was really up to that, because he needed competitive football. That's why I sent him to Aldershot.
"He's had that and it has brought him on, made that sharpness a little bit better.
"He now looks as if he is at least worthy of a place on the bench and, as the games go on, maybe better."
Robinson, 18, scored four goals for Aldershot, including one on his debut against champions-elect Barnet.
Albion had agreed to extend his loan from an initial month until the end of the season, including the possibility of the Conference play-offs, safe in the knowledge they could recall him at a moment's notice.
Robinson came off the bench to score in Albion's 3-2 defeat at Reading on the opening day of the season.
He made his solitary start this season against Coventry a week later and the last of his five Championship appearances as a substitute at Crewe in October.
McGhee, even with the addition of Robinson, has only 15 outfield players with first team experience to select from tomorrow.
Mark McCammon is likely to return to the starting line-up after he was dropped to the bench along with Knight at Preston.
The plan to have more firepower in reserve was wrecked by Hart's first half dismissal.
Energetic young midfielder Alexis Nicolas is also in contention for a return to the starting line-up tomorrow as Albion try to end a run of six straight defeats.
McGhee was in charge of Leicester when they were relegated from the Premiership in 1994-95.
The Foxes are not quite as desperate for a result as the Seagulls after a five-match unbeaten run, which has eased them out of trouble. McGhee said: "It's about ourselves, we can be beaten by good teams and we can be beaten by poor teams. Equally we've beaten good teams and poor teams.
"We must get ourselves right and make sure we win the game, not rely on Leicester losing it."
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