Albion manager Micky Adams is concerned about a shortage of central defenders for the start of the season.

Veteran Keith McPherson is expected to complete a move to non-League Slough this week.

Danny Cullip is already suspended for the Seagulls' opening fixture at Southend on August 12 and the first home game against Rochdale a week later.

That leaves Andy Crosby and injury-plagued Darren Carr as the only established stoppers available to Adams.

McPherson is on a month-to-month contract with Albion. The 36-year-old former Reading stalwart has been tracked by Slough for most of the summer.

He has been in talks with the Berkshire club and, although he hasn't signed yet, Adams is resigned to losing him.

"We are sorry to see him go," said Adams. "He is a good pro who always works hard and tries his best.

"It means we are slightly short of cover, with Danny Cullip being suspended. That really leaves us with Carr and Crosby, so we are going to wrap them up in cotton wool."

Crosby ironically tweaked his back at Bognor on Saturday, but Adams says he should be fit for tonight's first team friendly at Hastings Town (7.45pm).

Warren Aspinall (foot) and Rod Thomas (knee) are on the road to recovery after missing the Bognor game.

Albion squad list: 1. Michels Kuipers, 2. Paul Watson, 3. Kerry Mayo, 4. Danny Cullip, 5. Darren Carr, 6. Andy Crosby, 7. Darren Freeman, 8. Paul Rogers, 9. Gary Hart, 10. Charlie Oatway, 11. Paul Brooker, 12. Richard Carpenter, 13. Lee Steele, 14. Warren Aspinall, 15. Nathan Jones, 16. Rod Thomas, 17. Scott Ramsay, 18. Will Packham, 19. Keith McPherson, 20. Steve Melton, 29. Danny Davis, 30. Ben Andrews.