Albion boss Steve Coppell has challenged injury-plagued Paul Kitson to repay his debt to the Seagulls.

Coppell, already without talismanic striker Bobby Zamora for two weeks, will lose a striker after Saturday's visit to Ipswich when the on-loan Anthony Rougier returns to Reading.

Whether he tries to sign a replacement before next Thursday's transfer deadline hinges on the availability of Kitson.

The former West Ham marksman has been back in full training since last Thursday.

Coppell revealed: "It depends on Mr Kitson. If I could guarantee him being fit then possibly I wouldn't look for another striker unless something jumped out at me.

"I've got to just see what his situation is. He may surprise us.

"The evidence suggests he is not going to be fit, but I know in his heart of hearts there is no way he can be happy with his contribution this season."

Kitson made the last of his four starts for Albion in the home defeat by Gillingham in mid-September.

A displaced disc in his back required surgery, which ruled him out until January.

He picked up a rib injury in his comeback for the Reserves and has been restricted to one first team appearance this year, as a late substitute against leaders Portsmouth at Withdean in January.

After that Kitson scored his first goal for the club in the Reserves, only to sustain a mystery injury in the same match.

He then withdrew from a place on the bench at Walsall at the beginning of February and has also been hit by illness.

Coppell said: "He's had the injuries and you can say bad luck, but the most recent injury could not be identified.

"He has been out for about seven or eight weeks with it, so I think there is a little bit of a debt to pay. I just hope he is determined to pay it."

Kitson made his latest comeback in a 2-1 defeat for the Reserves against nine-man Plymouth Argyle at Worthing last night.

He was starved of service and had few opportunities to impress on a bumpy Woodside Road pitch before he was substituted at half-time.

Rougier is expected to miss the Ipswich game and, with Bobby Zamora ruled out by a hamstring tear, Coppell has Kitson, Gary Hart and Graham Barrett to choose from up front.

Coppell said: "Somebody has got to step up to the plate and at the moment, to be absolutely honest, there are a few contenders but nobody thrusting themselves forward," he said.

"It is down to me now to see what I feel the best combination is and then it is up to the people that play.

"Can they fill the shoes? I don't know whether they can, but we will soon find out."

The Reserves had the woodwork and keeper Will Packham to thank for being on terms at the break in last night's game.

Blair Sturrock looped a header from a Brian McGlinchey free kick against the top of the Albion bar.

Packham then made fine one-handed stops from a Stuart Malcolm header and a shot from David Beresford, but the real action unfolded in the second half once Kitson had departed.

Dan Bulley nodded Argyle ahead from McGlinchey's left wing centre on 53 minutes.

Osvaldo Lopes doubled their advantage with another header from a Beresford cross seven minutes later.

Plymouth had defender Hasney Aljfree sent off in the 73rd minute for handling Robbie Pethick's goalbound shot. Referee Fred Graham did not allow the goal to stand and instead awarded Albion a penalty, which John Piercy converted to halve the arrears.

Plymouth were further depleted on 78 minutes when rightback Paul Connolly, cautioned for a first half foul on Piercy, saw red for a second bookable offence as he bundled over Chris McPhee.

Albion Reserves: Packham; Rogers, Harding, Virgo, Pethick, Hammond, Wilkinson, Lee, McPhee, Kitson, Piercy. Subs: Hinshelwood for Kitson (withdrawn 46), May, Bridle, El-Abd, Beck for Lee (withdrawn 73).