Albion manager Mark McGhee vowed today to try to keep hold of Paul McShane, at least until the end of the season.

The Seagulls would love to sign the young Manchester United centre half permanently.

At worst, they hope to extend his loan for the rest of the Championship campaign once the current arrangement expires at the end of December and the transfer window reopens in January.

McShane headed his first goal for Albion from a short corner routine in Saturday's 1-1 draw at next-to-bottom Burnley.

McGhee said: "I'm delighted for Paul, I thought he had a good game under pressure.

"He's a good player and we are going to try desperately to keep him here as long as we possibly can, if not permanently, but Man United have a huge say in that. We don't know yet what they feel about it."

McShane's first-half effort followed some dressing room ribbing.

"Dean White (coach) and all of them were giving me a bit of stick, saying it was about time I scored," he revealed.

Albion, up two places to 17th, were unhappy with Garreth O'Connor's equalising penalty for Burnley, awarded against Kerry Mayo for tugging John McGreal from a corner.

Mayo admitted: "I pulled the lad back but the referee or linesman didn't see that he had pulled me back first."

McGhee expects Gary Hart and Dean Hammond to return from viruses at Leicester tomorrow night.

Richard Carpenter was forced off at half-time on Saturday with a foot injury, so Charlie Oatway is likely to continue in midfield.