Dean Wilkins today backed three of his Albion players to be fighting fit for pre-season after undergoing hernia operations.

Skipper Dean Hammond went under the knife in the closing weeks of last season, Alex Revell followed last week and Tommy Elphick has surgery tomorrow.

Hammond missed the final seven games of the campaign, of which only the first was won, but he has already started rehabilitation work and Wilkins expects the decision to stand him down early to pay off.

The Albion manager said: "Dean was playing through quite a lot of discomfort for a period of time last season.

"I understand that the surgery the three players have had is a straight forward thing nowadays.

"It won't put them back at all for pre season."

Hammond scored 11 times last season, seven of his strikes coming in League games which were either drawn or won by a single goal margin.

The reigning player of the year should have a better idea of who will be alongside him for the new season with an announcement imminent as to what the future holds for the Seagulls' 15 out-of-contract players.

Among those waiting to hear their fate are Gary Hart, Kerry Mayo, Charlie Oatway, Michel Kuipers and Guy Butters.

The list also includes Adam Hinshelwood, Paul Reid, Alexis Bertin, Sam Rents, Doug Loft, Paul Hinshelwood, Chris Breach, Richard Martin, Wes Fogden and Georges Santos.