Albion manager Mark McGhee today defended the comeback performance of Alan Blayney predicting the on-loan keeper will soon be back to his best.

Blayney returned in goal for Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Stoke following the end of Wayne Henderson's loan stint from Aston Villa.

He was at fault for Sam Bangoura's header, which rounded off Stoke's victory.

McGhee is confident the Northern Irishman will rediscover during his second loan spell at the club the dependable form he showed at the end of last season to help the Seagulls stay up.

"You couldn't criticise him for the first goal and that was the goal that cost us the game as far as I'm concerned," McGhee said.

"The third goal he will be disappointed with. That is the one you would put down to rustiness and it didn't cost us the game.

"He's had a game and he will get better. We know what he can do."

Dutch shot-stopper Michel Kuipers, out since suffering serious shoulder damage against Nottingham Forest in January, is creeping closer to contention after a first-half run-out in the Reserves against Luton last month.

Physio Malcolm Stuart said: "The very unfortunate thing is we haven't had enough reserve team games to get him match fit.

"He's gradually got sharper and sharper on the training ground and the injury is now well behind him. It was an absolute lift for him, playing 45 minutes against Luton."

Blayney keeps goal for the Reserves against Millwall at Worthing tonight (7pm), with Kuipers on the bench.

The team also includes the apologetic Leon Knight, who was axed from the squad at Stoke after his reaction to being substituted against Wolves last week.

Meanwhile, centre half Adam Hinshelwood, sidelined since March by knee damage, resumed training with the first team squad yesterday after surviving a scare on his first day back.

Stuart revealed: "He jarred the same knee. The pitches were quite wet and he slipped. It put him back five or six days.

"It was quite a big lift to him that the knee withstood what was quite a nasty incident. The knee went through virtually a similar thing to the way he got the injury but it caused no damage whatsoever."

Adam El-Abd, a potential replacement for the suspended Paul McShane in the centre of defence for Crystal Palace's visit on Sunday week, was not on the bench at Stoke because of a groin infection.

Former Albion stalwart Glen Wilson died in hospital yesterday following a heart attack, aged 76.

Wilson captained the club to their first-ever promotion and served the Seagulls for 30 years as a player, kit man and caretaker manager.

Albion Reserves (from): Blayney; Kuipers; Dodd, G. Elphick, Mayo, Rents, Cox, McPhee, Carey, Turienzo, Knight, May, T. Elphick, Gatting, Chamberlain.