JEFF Minton steps up his bid for a return to Albion's first team in the Reserves against Southampton at Marchwood tonight (7.30).

The midfielder playmaker will make his comeback in Saturday's home match against Barnet providing he suffers no reaction to the ankle ligament damage which has sidelined him since January 15.

Reserve team coach Ian Culverhouse said: "Jeff will definitely start tonight, then we will play it by ear.

"If he is all right we will try to get a full game into him."

Albion boss Jeff Wood is hoping to make two more new signings before tomorrow's transfer deadline.

He has now discovered only one of them can be a loan, because the departed Kevin Nicholls still counts.

Nicholls has already gone back to Charlton, but his loan does not officially expire until Saturday.

Albion Reserves (from): Packham; Ansah, Allan, Smith, Hobson, Browne, Francis, Minto,, Mills, Ryan, D. Davis, Davies, Westcott, Ramsay.

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