Nicky Forster has given Albion an injury boost.

The skipper and top scorer does not require knee surgery after all and will be back for the start of next season.

Forster has not played since damaging his right knee in a training ground accident at the end of March.

It was feared he had ruptured a cruciate ligament, which would have ruled him out for seven months.

The 35-year-old striker was due to undergo exploratory surgery today but, after visiting a specialist in London, it has been decided an operation is no longer necessary.

Forster has suffered less serious medial ligament damage, which will sideline him from the remaining two games.

The 15-goal marksman has resumed light training and will be fit for pre-season.

Lloyd Owusu and Gary Hart continue their profitable attacking partnership at Huddersfield tomorrow in the absence of Forster and hernia victim Glenn Murray.

On-loan Owusu has scored five goals in as many games, while Hart has played a key part in six of Albion’s last ten goals.

Hart provided Owusu’s equaliser and substitute Calvin Andrew’s winner at Bristol Rovers on Tuesday.

It has been a fairytale turnaround after he was released at the end of last season, then given a year’s contract when Micky Adams took charge, only to be ruled out for most of the campaign by a serious knee injury.

Hart’s dramatic contribution to the survival bid has earned the admiration of fellow stalwart Michel Kuipers.

“Gary is unbelievable and I am just really pleased for him,” said the Dutch goalkeeper.

“The people who have been doubting him, he is proving them and everybody wrong.

“He has been a major part of this turnaround. Where would we have been without him?

“It’s not just Gary but everyone involved, even the guys who have come to the club on loan.

“They are not loan players any more, they are Brighton now. They are us and they are bleeding for the club.

“It has been fantastic to see, the squad turning into something which we are now, which is immense.”

Victory for Crewe at Stockport tonight will prevent Albion guaranteeing safety, even if they win at Huddersfield.

Their fate is, however, now in their own hands. Maximum points from Huddersfield and at home to Stockport on the last day will ensure survival and Kuipers is focusing on that, rather than events elsewhere.

He said: “You have to concentrate on your own game. The moment you start thinking about what other teams are doing, that is when you lose focus on your game and lose.

“You have to keep concentrating on your task and afterwards find out what the other teams have done.

“We have got ourselves in a really good position now to stay up, so we have to make sure we don’t lose it.”