Albion have warned fans not to expect an immediate impact from a returning front runner.

The Seagulls expect to have on-loan Calvin Andrew back with them next week after he returned to parent club Crystal Palace to recover from a hamstring injury.

Andrew, who can play up front or on the left, would offer a timely boost to the squad in the League One run-in.

But assistant manager Dean White admits the 22-year-old, whose last appearance was at Luton on February 17, cannot be rushed back into action.

White said: “He is getting fit at Palace, doing some running.

“He will need a good week’s training here before he can be considered.

“You have to take your time on these. If it goes again he is finished for the season and we need to be careful about that.”

Albion are preparing for Saturday’s six-pointer with Swindon and White admits the midfield diamond they operated for most of Tuesday’s win at Hereford has lost its element of surprise for Robins boss Danny Wilson.

He said: “We thought it would cause Hereford problems and it took them until half-time to get to grips with it.

“The Swindon manager was there so we might come up with something different to surprise him.”

LA Galaxy were last night refusing to comment on reports they had offered Albion’s Chris Birchall a two-year deal in MLS.

Albion boss Russell Slade is known to be unkeen to let his midfielder go in the middle of a relegation battle.