Albion stalwart Kerry Mayo goes on trial today in a bid to prove his fitness for a return to the first team.

Manager Mark McGhee will judge whether Mayo is ready to face Leeds on Saturday in a reserve team outing at Reading (2pm).

The long-serving leftback has been sidelined since suffering a calf injury in the Seagulls' second Championship match of the season at home to Reading.

McGhee said: "It's absolutely about how he does. If he shows the energy and fitness level we think he requires for Saturday then he has got a chance.

"If he looks as if he needs games and is sluggish then he won't be back in. He's been out for a month and he's the sort who needs to train and play.

"In training yesterday he looked determined to show us that he is allright, so we will see how he does for 60 or 90 minutes on a full-sized pitch."

New French signing Alexandre Frutos makes his first appearance for Albion on the left wing and Federico Turienzo steps up his comeback from the injuries which have so far restricted the Argentine target man's first team opportunities.

A strong reserve side also features Charlie Oatway and Colin Kazim-Richards, both of whom have recently lost their first team spots.

A sore groin prevented Paul McShane from joining fellow on-loan team-mate Wayne Henderson in the Republic of Ireland under-21s against France last night but the Manchester United centre half should be fit to face Leeds.

Meanwhile, Jason Dodd has an operation tomorrow on the left ankle injury which will rule him out until next month.

Dodd is hoping the damage can be repaired by keyhole surgery, which will reduce the recovery period to three to four weeks. Standard surgery will keep the experienced defender out for up to six weeks.