Albion boss Steve Coppell has relaxed his search for temporary striking cover and urged Graham Barrett to make a "more positive contribution".

Gary Hart begins a four-match ban against Millwall at Withdean on Saturday, while Bobby Zamora is also suspended for the all-ticket trip to Gillingham a week later.

That gives Republic of Ireland under-21 international Barrett the chance to stake a claim again after losing his starting place to Hart for the last three matches.

Coppell said: "Graham is mentally wounded. He wants to show his value and he is going to have his opportunity.

"If I got someone in on loan for a month they would be competing for a place and there are not many that are going to want to do that.

"Graham knows what I want. I need a more positive contribution, scoring and creating allied to the workrate he has given. He is confident he can deliver."

Barrett survived an injury scare in the dying stages of Monday's dire 1-0 defeat for the Reserves in the Sussex Senior Cup at Crawley.

The on-loan Arsenal front man completed both parts of a double training session yesterday after Coppell gave the players Monday off.

So too did Dave Beasant. The 43-year-old has recovered from gastric flu and will be back in goal against Millwall following the return of Ben Roberts to Charlton, revealed by us late on Monday.

Zamora, who suffered a knock in last Saturday's 1-0 win at Bradford, is expected to resume training tomorrow.

Nathan Jones, ruled out of the back-to-back victories against Wolves and Bradford by an ankle injury, could be in contention but Robbie Pethick is still struggling with a back problem.

Young forward Daniel Marney's loan spell with Southend has been stretched to a third and final month.

Dean White's Reserves have been denied a swift opportunity to make amends for the Crawley defeat.

Tonight's Combination game against Barnet has already been postponed as the pitch at Woodside Road, Worthing, is frozen.

The local derby against arch-rivals Crystal Palace, scheduled for Withdean on Saturday March 29, has been brought forward to Tuesday March 25 on police advice.

It means Albion now face seven matches in 25 days in what Coppell regards as the "watershed month" of the relegation fight.

More from the camp at thisisthealbion.co.uk