BOSS Chris Hughton has warned some of last season’s regulars they are looking over their shoulders after Albion’s opening setback at Watford.
Hughton does not normally make many changes but admits he has a decision to make for Manchester United’s visit to the Amex on Sunday following the lacklustre 2-0 defeat at Vicarage Road.
He told The Argus: “Our game is about performance and results and everybody has to play thinking about wanting to stay in the team. That’s normal.
“I’ll have a decision going into next week’s game, as I will the following week and the following week.
“It’s generally performances that gauge that.
“All I know is that when you have lost you are always looking forward to the next game, whatever it is, coming around.
“It’s at home, against a giant in Manchester United, but in this division you have got to get points – and nobody can tell you where you are going to get your points.”
New signings Yves Bissouma and Alireza Jahanbakhsh put themselves in contention for starts against United with late cameos from the bench after two goals by former Juventus winger Roberto Pereyra rewarded Watford’s superiority.
Hughton said: “When Bissouma and Jahanbakhsh both came on they looked good and I probably would have brought (Jurgen) Locadia on.
“But the difficulty that I had was that Bruno had gone off in the first half and we had used one sub. Both of them were pluses.”
Veteran Bruno is an early doubt for the clash against United after lasting only 26 minutes.
Brazilian Bernardo, the one new signing to start, had to switch from left-back to right-back when Bruno limped off to be replaced by Gaetan Bong.
Hughton said: “Bruno is a concern because he felt his hamstring.”
Romanian summer signing Florin Andone, ruled out so far for all except 45 minutes of pre-season by groin trouble, could increase Hughton’s attacking options, although he will still be without Colombian World Cup winger Jose Izquierdo (knee).
“Andone trains on Monday,” Hughton said. “Izquierdo probably is going to be a little bit longer. All the other new players are involved. We will have to make sure we prepare well for a big week.”
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