Albion goal ace Bobby Zamora is battling to be fit for tomorrow night's trip to bottom club Northampton.

Boss Micky Adams says his star striker is 50-50 because of a groin strain.

Zamora suffered the injury in training yesterday.

He was kept out of this morning's session at Ardingly College for treatment.

Adams revealed: "There is a slight doubt about Bobby. We will have a look at him in the morning.

"I would say he is 50-50 at the moment."

Albion won at Barnet last season and drew at Rochdale without Zamora, who headed his fourth goal in five games against Blackpool on Monday.

Adams said: "We've got good results without him in the past, so we are not a one-man band.

"It won't affect the way I think we are going to play."

Adams' selection mettle is being tested by another quandary concerning Albion supersub Lee Steele.

The manager is pondering whether to start with Steele in tomorrow night's sell-out trip to Sixfields.

The born-again striker has made a big impact off the bench in three of the last four matches.

He hit the winner against Wigan, helped create both goals for Zamora against Wimbledon in the Worthington Cup and scored and set up two goals in Monday's 4-0 rout of Blackpool.

Steele was taken off the transfer list immediately after the match. Now Adams must decide whether he is the man to put the boot into the pointless Cobblers.

"The only decision on Friday will be whether to start with Lee Steele," Adams revealed. "I haven't got too many others to make.

"He cannot do any more than he is doing. The good thing is he hasn't got the hump and sulked, he has got on and done the job."

Adams watched Matt Wicks make his comeback from thigh trouble in a 3-1 defeat behind closed doors for an Albion XI at Crystal Palace yesterday. Andy Crosby converted a penalty for a line-up which also included Kerry Mayo, Robbie Pethick and Geoff Pitcher.