Albion ace Darren Freeman has a double hernia, which could rule him out of action for weeks.

The Seagulls are anxiously waiting to hear whether last season's leading goalscorer can play through the pain barrier or needs surgery immediately.

Manager Micky Adams admits it's a "major blow", with Albion's first League game at Southend now only eight days away.

The bad news was confirmed after Freeman had tests on Wednesday on the groin problem which has been bothering him throughout the close season.

It prevented him taking part in Albion's week-long tour of Southern Ireland last month and he was substituted towards the end of Tuesday's fiery 2-1 friendly defeat at Hastings.

Adams said: "We are waiting to hear from the surgeon to see whether we need to get it done now or whether he can actually play on with it, but the signs are he may need to have the operation.

"Until I actually get the surgeon's report on my desk I'm not going to speculate on how long he may or may not be out.

"I told everybody he had a groin problem, but nobody listened to me.

"They saw other things into it. What's disappointing is that he's had eight weeks sat at home doing nothing, so we've got it wrong somewhere.

"It's a major blow. We've got two (Nathan Jones and Danny Cullip) suspended and now this. We haven't got the biggest squad."

Adams may rest Andy Crosby or Darren Carr for tomorrow's Withdean friendly against Sheffield Wednesday. He is short of cover in the centre of defence because of Cullip's ban and Keith McPherson's pending move to Slough.

"It will be the sort of test we are looking for," said Adams. "This pre-season we have spread a little goodwill throughout the county by playing three Sussex teams and asking for nothing in terms of expenses.

"With hindsight I don't think it has been a good idea in terms of the quality of games we've had. That is no disrespect to them and certainly not to Hastings, who gave us a tremendous game.

"Sheffield Wednesday obviously represents a step up in opposition and I am sure that will benefit us. I don't think the lads were motivated for Hastings away, but I am sure they are looking forward to this one.

"Sheffield have a new manager in Paul Jewell, so his players will want to impress. We will certainly have to close them down and work a lot harder at stopping them from playing.

"That is the type of game I want before we kick-off. I would have liked more games at Withdean, but because of the stands and the pitch we are not allowed."

Tickets are available from the ticket office in Queens Road, Brighton, until 1pm tomorrow.

An Albion X1 visit Selsey tonight (7.45pm).

Albion (from): Kuipers; Packham; Watson, Mayo, Jones, Crosby, Carr, Andrews, Cullip, Rogers, Oatway, Carpenter, Melton, Aspinall, Davis, Brooker, Thomas, Hart, Steele, Ramsay.

Sheffield Wednesday (from): Pressman; Haslam, Hinchcliffe, Jonk, Hutton, Walker, Donnelly, Sibon, Booth, De Bilde, Quinn, Nei, Humphreys, Cresswell, Hamshaw, Muller, Nicholson.