ALBION No.1 David Stockdale has pledged to lose more weight as he tries to keep young understudy Christian Walton at bay.

Stockdale, pictured right, returned from four matches out with a broken finger in place of England under-20s shot-stopper Walton in the 3-3 draw at Norwich.

He starred in the second half to keep the Seagulls in contention when they were 2-1 down, after shedding almost half-a-stone during his four-week absence.

Stockdale revealed to The Argus: “I am going to carry on (losing weight). I felt sharp, a few people said I looked sharp, making saves.

“Obviously, I have got Christian breathing down my neck so you have got to keep up to your task.

“I am going to carry on doing that, see if I can lose some more. I have seen quotes from Tim Howard (Everton) recently that he feels fitter now at 34 than he was at 26.

“I’m 29. Hopefully if I can be fitter now it might make my career last longer and help the team get us to where we want to be.”

Stockdale could do nothing about Norwich’s Brighton-born captain Russell Martin celebrating his 200th appearance for the club with a 30-yard thunderbolt which gave the Canaries a 2-1 lead early in the second half.

“I hate them all going in, whether they are scuffed or it goes in the top corner, but it was a great strike,” Stockdale said. “He’s a good lad as well. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer lad actually.”