Albion have put on hold the prospect of Chris Birchall becoming a team-mate of David Beckham in the States.

LA Galaxy have reportedly placed a ‘discovery notice’ on Birchall, which means no other Major League Soccer club can make an approach to sign him.

The Seagulls turned down a request from the former Coventry midfielder’s agent to allow him to spend a couple of days with Galaxy while he was on international duty recently with Trinidad and Tobago.

Boss Russell Slade said: “At the moment he has got a big part to play still in our squad.”

Meanwhile, calf injury victims Gary Borrowdale and Gary Hart have travelled with the squad to Hereford after resuming training yesterday.

Both will be assessed in a training session this morning ahead of tonight's key relegation clash. Slade said: “If they come through that they will definitely be considered.”

Albion will be especially keen to be first to break the deadlock at Edgar Street.

They have a good record away from home in the League after scoring the opening goal, going on to win four, draw two and lose just once, at Leyton Orient.

They have only picked up two away points in ten games when they have conceded the first goal and one of those was at rock-bottom Cheltenham.