Albion boss Peter Taylor has challenged Lee Steele to earn the right to solve a looming striker shortage.

The prolific Bobby Zamora begins a three-match ban after Saturday's home game against promotion rivals Huddersfield.

Zamora's absence is exacerbated by a simultaneous two-game suspension for 18-year-old Daniel Webb, leaving the Seagulls short of firepower.

Eight-goal Steele has scored only twice since a double in Taylor's opening match in charge against Oldham at Withdean in October.

His last League start was at Wigan on January 12 and he has not even been among the substitutes for Albion's last three outings.

Taylor said: "We have got no favourites, I can assure you. It's a question of who is going to earn that chance and they have got to earn it.

"They have got to convince me that they are going to play well and work their socks off. They have got to impress me that they are fit enough to do it."

Zamora misses next Saturday's home game against Wrexham, the trip to Bournemouth on February 26 and the visit to promotion rivals Stoke on March 1 following his red card at Oldham last Saturday.

"It's a massive blow," admitted Taylor. "He is so important to us, not only as a goalscorer but as a very good leader of the line.

"We cannot change it now and we have got to be realistic. We know he is not going to be playing for three matches.

"We have got to make sure we get it right with him and that he has a good, fresh week so that he is flying when he gets back."

Webb also misses the Wrexham and Bournemouth fixtures after accumulating ten bookings with Albion and his former club Southend.

Steele is the only other recognised centre forward, although right winger Gary Hart used to play there, Junior Lewis can play almost anywhere and teenager Chris McPhee has impressed enough to get on the bench last month against Cardiff.

Taylor has scope to draft in another front man on loan next week, but that is not a straightforward decision.

Lewis is already on loan from Leicester and Albion can only borrow one more player. Taylor must weigh up whether it is worth the risk, with Michel Kuipers only just full recovered from a thigh problem and his rookie understudy Will Packham the only goalkeepers.