Manager Mark McGhee believes Colin Kazim-Richards has the potential to be the goalscorer Albion are looking for.

But he says the lively striker first needs to become more fired up than he was last season.

Kazim-Richards came off the bench to score a stunning 20-yard strike in last night's pre-season win at Colchester.

He was partnered up front in the second half by debutant Dan McBreen while fellow trialist Martin Brittain played a full 90 minutes on the right wing.

The win was overshadowed by a knee injury to Adam Hinshelwood which is likely to rule him out for the start of the season.

McGhee said: "We did a training session after Colin was told he was not in the team and he was the best player on the park. I said to him at the time 'Is that what we need to do to you, to antagonise you to get you firing?'

"He then came off the bench and was terrific. That is what we need from him. He ran around, challenged, made a nuisance of himself and was sensible with the ball."

Kazim-Richards said: "I was disappointed to be left out but luckily came on and showed what I could do.

"I want to be known as a good footballer and a good goalscorer and I know I need to score goals to do that.

"I am disappointed to be in League One this season like everyone else but we just have to get on with it. I don't know much about the league but I don't care, I will be out to score goals."

Hinshelwood's injury came as he hooked the ball clear near the corner flag midway through the first half.

He immediately limped off and looked in real pain as he was carried along the touchline to the dressing rooms.

The setback capped a disappointing first half for Albion as a whole.

They were overrun in midfield at times and struggled to get forward.

Brittain was unable to get into the game on the right wing and Jake Robinson was forced to drop deep to pick up the ball.

They only created two clear chances which came just before the break when Dean Hammond hit the bar with a looping volley and Robinson curled just wide from the edge of the box.

In contrast, Colchester, who have swapped places with the Seagulls in the Championship, looked bright and inventive with former Tottenham duo Kevin Watson and Johnnie Jackson pulling the strings in the middle.

A positive for McGhee's side, however, was the way the back four coped with the home side's attacking threat.

Hinshelwood's replacement, Tommy Elphick, looked solid alongside Adam El-Abd and full backs Paul Reid and Gary Hart, back from a neck injury, did little wrong as the U's were restricted to long range efforts.

Albion improved in the second half and twice went close straight after the restart.

Robinson fired straight at Dean Gerken and Brittain forced a good save from the home keeper with a bending free kick.

Colchester responded by introducing former Seagull Chris Iwelumo but the big striker was kept quiet by Albion's impressive defensive central pair.

McBreen was given the last half hour to show what he could do after replacing Robinson. He was strong, physical and showed he had a good touch by setting up strike partner Kazim-Richards for the winning goal on 75 minutes. He laid the ball off neatly with his chest 20 yards out and Kazim-Richards lashed a superb half volley into the top right-hand corner.

McBreen tainted a lively debut with a bad miss in the last minute, slashing wildly over the bar just inside the box despite having time and space to pick his spot.

Goalkeeper Michel Kuipers continued his impressive preseason with two spectacular saves after coming on for Wayne Henderson at half-time. But he had his woodwork to thank for the clean sheet as Jamie Cureton and Kem Izzet rattled the crossbar in quick succession late on.

Colchester: Gerken, Halford, Jackson, Brown, Watson, Duguid, Cureton, Izzet, Garcia, Elokomi (sub Iwelumo 62), Richards (sub Baldwin 62). Subs not used: Cousins, Guy, Wilson, King, Hughes, Wareham.

Albion: Henderson (sub Kuipers 46), Hart (sub Rents 91), Reid, Hinshelwood (sub Elphick 26), El-Abd, Hammond, Brittain, Carpenter, Revell (sub Kazim- Richards 55), Robinson (sub McBreen 62), Frutos (sub Cox 65). Subs not used: Rents