Albion manager Dean Wilkins today labelled the injury-plagued loan spell of Zoumana Bakayogo a "disaster".
The young Ivory Coast full-back was signed on loan from Millwall in January for the rest of the season.
He impressed Wilkins when he had a trial with the Seagulls last summer but Bakayogo has been dogged by injury problems and knee trouble means he will now return to Millwall without making a first team appearance for Albion.
"It has been a disaster really," Wilkins admitted. "Every time he gets back fit he's picked up an injury."
Bakayogo is on an injury list which is exacerbating a selection dilemma for Wilkins for the last game of the season at Cheltenham on Saturday.
Nick Ward (ankle), Doug Loft (back) and Scott Chamberlain (back) are also under treatment as the double-chasing Reserves prepare for a hectic finale.
The Cheltenham game, with nothing at stake, is an opportunity for Wilkins to give some fringe players a chance but the likes of Tommy Elphick and Nathan Elder have been mainstays for the Reserves.
They will pip Southampton for the Pontin's Holidays Combination Central Division title if they win at Bournemouth tonight and beat the same opponents at Worthing on Thursday night.
To complicate matters further, the Reserves also have the Sussex Senior Cup final against Worthing next Monday.
Wilkins said: "Of course we want to win the Reserve league but then there are one or two we are thinking about playing at Cheltenham and, with the injuries as well, we are trying to juggle it around to find the best solution.
"It just highlights again what a shambles the Reserve league has been.
"We went a month with no game, then we have played every week for eight weeks and now have to play three games in seven days. It's absolutely ridiculous.
"If we are going to make one or two changes at Cheltenham it is important to those players that get an opportunity, so that has to take precedence over anything really, even though there is nothing riding on it in terms of league position.
"It might be giving somebody a little bit more experience with next year in mind."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article