Dean Cox is back in contention for Albion's crucial trip to Walsall tonight.

The midfield playmaker returns to the squad after being left out of the last two matches for disciplinary reasons.

Cox missed last week's 4-2 home win against Gillingham and Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Carlisle following remarks he made from the bench about his team-mates after he was substituted against Leyton Orient at Withdean ten days ago.

Cox was also axed from the squad for the victory at Swindon in December for his role in a dressing room bust-up in the previous match at home to Nottingham Forest.

Now, having doubled the punishment for his second offence, boss Dean Wilkins has decided enough is enough and he could even bring Cox straight back into the starting line-up after taking off both Tommy Fraser and David Martot in the second half at Carlisle.

Wilkins said: "I feel it is the right time now to bring him back into the squad.

"I think there has been some reflection on Dean's part and he is like any other player - if we feel we need him back in there then we will bring him back in.

"We are just trying to achieve success together and we all have to be conscious of that. Knowing him as I do I would imagine it has hurt him a lot."

A first away victory in seven games would leave Albion only three points behind fifth-placed Walsall with a game in hand but a sixth defeat out of seven on their travels could leave them eight points adrift of the play-offs.

The Seagulls are waiting for the results of a scan on Dean Bowditch's latest groin problem before deciding whether to try to extend his second loan stint from Ipswich.