Richard Carpenter will return for Albion against Cardiff at Withdean on Saturday, providing he proves his fitness.

Manager Mark McGhee is poised to restore Carpenter to the centre of midfield for the clash with one of his old clubs, as long as he has recovered from a foot injury.

Carpenter and long-term ankle injury victim Jason Dodd both resumed full training yesterday.

McGhee said: "They played for an hour in a practice match and I'm very pleased both of them came through it.

"We are training every day this week, so we will give Chippy and Jason as much work as we can within reason.

"Jason may need a bit longer but, to play well in the style we are playing, I think we need a fit Chippy in the team.

"It will be a case of whether he is fit enough by Saturday to get him straight back or does he need another week?

"We've got the Palace game, of course, coming up next Tuesday and we need as many bodies as possible."

Carpenter missed the away draw at Leicester and the home defeat by Norwich with an inflamed tendon in the sole of his right foot.

"Dean Hammond tried to do Chippy's job against Norwich but he is better at other things and we did miss him," said McGhee.

"You need someone that can be a fulcrum in a 4-4-2. They can both win the ball back and head it, so they can both scrap away as midfield players, but when we win it Chippy can distribute it and Dean can get forward.

"That's not taking away from the fact that Charlie (Oatway) is the man in the team and Chippy has still to prove this week that he is back."

Carpenter and Dodd are in contention for run-outs in the Reserves against Luton at Worthing tonight (7pm).

So too are goalkeeper Alan Blayney (virus) and young striker Jake Robinson, who missed a few days work with an ankle injury sustained in training.

Robinson could partner Chris McPhee, back from a loan spell with Aldershot.