Albion assistant Mauricio Taricco is back in Gus Poyet’s plans – after lasting 90 league minutes for the first time in seven years.

Taricco was drafted in at left-back in place of knee injury victim Marcos Painter for yesterday’s 2-0 win against Barnsley at The Amex.

The 38-year-old Argentinian retired five weeks ago following the home defeat by Crystal Palace, due to calf cramps which have plagued his career and prevented him playing the whole match.

He made it to the final whistle this time, despite a couple of first-half injury scares and second-half cramp, as goals either side of the break from skipper Gordon Greer and Ryan Harley earned the Seagulls their first win in ten games and lifted them back into the Championship top ten.

Taricco revealed to The Argus: “I still don’t feel fit, especially in the last 25 minutes. I didn’t come off but I could have, because I had aches and pains everywhere. Somehow I got through so for me it’s a great incentive.

“I know Gus very well and I understand how difficult it makes his job to have somebody that can drop out of the team at any time. All I can say is that I will be training as hard as I can and will rest and lead a professional footballer’s life as best as I can.” Taricco’s previous 90-minute outing in the league was for Spurs at Aston Villa back in May 2004 before a seven-year retirement.

His longest appearance since then was on his return to action for Albion last season, when he was sent off on in extra-time on his debut in the FA Cup at Woking.

Taricco said: “It’s not about my age, I always had cramp even when I played for Spurs. What happened with me in the past is the more I played the better I became physically.

“I’m delighted to have got through 90 minutes somehow, that is the important thing, so I didn’t create any problems like I did against Palace.

“It’s something I can’t control, if you get a cramp you get a cramp. I couldn’t control it when I was younger but we’ll see. I’m trying everything, massages and ice baths to get those 25 minutes I lack.”

Poyet said: “He was outstanding on the ball. He had a problem with his hamstring in the first half-an-hour, he got smashed in the first half, then he was getting cramps. He went through everything but he finished the game and that’s a big, big step forward.

“He is in a better position now and if he keeps playing he will get better and better. I told him I will see him Thursday after three or four days rest. He’s going to need that!”