Albion boss Gus Poyet wants a replacement for broken leg victim Kazenga LuaLua signed before tomorrow night's trip to Southampton.

Poyet is desperate to land his mystery target and is getting frustrated by the time it is taking.

He said: "It's still a possibility but when you cannot get a player very quickly it slowly looks like it is going away.

"Maybe we'll get a bit lucky and we can get the replacement for LuaLua.

"The clock is ticking because I don't want the player on Thursday at four o'clock, I want the player today, because I want the player to be available for tomorrow.

"If you can get him on Wednesday or Thursday you can get him on Monday or Tuesday, that is my opinion. I'm am not negotiating, so it is very easy to say when you are not doing that.

"My wish is to have him now, before Southampton. If we get him after I think we have lost a great opportunity to add some quality to the team ahead of a very important game."

Skipper Gordon Greer has recovered from illness and will lead the team out at St Mary's.