Albion are ready to scour the loan market to ease their defensive injury problems.

The Seagulls have not had many fitness problems in pre-season but the few there have been have almost all affected centre backs.

Now boss Mark McGhee has asked colleague Dean White to scan the market back home for a short-term stand-in.

Guy Butters, Adam Hinshelwood and Joel Lynch have all missed training and friendlies in the last week as has Kerry Mayo, who numbers centre back among his positions.

Adam El-Abd is the only central defender with much experience who is fully fit at the moment.

Youngsters Chris Breach, Tommy Elphick and Paul Hinshelwood each had 45 minutes at centre back against RC Port du Havre on Tuesday and are available to face Le Havre tomorrow.

McGhee admits the situation is causing him concern ahead of the League One opener on August 5.

He said: "We've got Dean White trying to identify maybe one or two defenders that are available to us on loan.

"We need that in case we go into the Rotherham game with just Adam El-Abd and Tommy Elphick fit.

"Hinsh is nearly back, Joel is nearly back. That's all we can do is get them fit again."

White, who was given scouting responsibility in a managerial reshuffle at the end of last season, has remained in England this week.

Albion were given a defensive void to fill when Paul McShane returned to Manchester United at the end of last season.

Adam Hinshelwood was first to put himself forward as a possible successor. El-Abd would also love first crack and Lynch admits centre back is his favourite position.

Yesterday evening, as the squad enjoyed what was supposed to be a light-hearted seven-a-side in Gonfreville, Adam Hinshelwood did exercises with physio Malcolm Stuart and Lynch walked numerous laps of the pitch.

Meanwhile, Mayo and Butters had the worst job, refereeing as it all got pretty competitive.

Lynch said: "I've got some blood in my thigh so I need to get rid of that and do as much movement as I can without pain.

"I had some aching in training and they gave me a few days off.

"I played on Saturday (at Bognor) and it just went in the game."

Thunder clouds and a few showers brought temperatures below 30C in time for the evening session.

Similar conditions are forecast for today, when Albion's programme includes coaching deprived youngsters from the Le Havre area, before scorching conditions return tomorrow.