Albion have been boosted by the absence of Darren Bent for Championship leaders Derby County at the Amex tomorrow night.

The Seagulls' former loan signing has been sidelined by a hamstring injury sustained in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Fulham which will rule him out for up to four weeks.

Derby are already without 19-goal top scorer Chris Martin (knee).

Bent, on target twice in five games for Albion on loan from Aston Villa before Christmas, has scored seven in ten since being borrowed by County.

The absence of both Martin and Bent improves Albion's chances of ending a run of five straight defeats at the hands of Derby.