Mark McGhee today admitted he faces a battle to sign his top target to replace Seb Carole.

Newcastle reserve team winger Martin Brittain, who showed up well in last Saturday's friendly win at Worthing, is now training with Hull City.

The Seagulls would love to make a move for the 21-year-old as they look to fill the creative void left by Carole's recent move to Leeds.

But McGhee accepts they face hot competition for his signature and is waiting to hear whether the player secures a deal in the Championship.

The Albion boss said: "Martin is obviously someone we liked and we would like to have a closer look at him.

"I've had a chat with (Hull manager) Phil Parkinson and he has said he will make a pretty quick decision.

"Come the change of managers in the summer there is always a bit of player turnaround so we just like to get in early."

Albion sent a youthful line-up to a practice match with Oxford yesterday but will field prospective first-teamers at Aldershot on Friday and Bognor on Saturday.

The Seagulls got through 22 players against the Ryman Leaguers last Saturday. McGhee said: "What we did last week at Worthing, we will do the same on a match basis in thse two games.

"Players will get longer, not 90 minutes but maybe 75."

Adam El-Abd, Joel Lynch and Guy Butters have picked up minor knocks and missed yesterday's behind-closed-doors game at Bisham Abbey, in which former Reading scholar Liam Marum featured for the Seagulls.