BOSS Chris Hughton says Albion and Sheffield Wednesday have the squads to be fighting for a top six finish again.

They met in the Championship play-offs last season and have both strengthened their squads since then.

Hughton told The Argus: “We want to be challenging again and I’ve got no doubts we have a group of players that absolutely want to make sure we are right up there challenging to get promotion.

“Sheffield Wednesday certainly have the ability to do that with the team they have got and the quality in that team.

“It will be the same for both sides. We want to be up there challenging and have the squads to do it.”

Wednesday started slowly with one win in five but Carlos Carvalhal’s team have won four of their last five and can move above Albion if they beat them at Hillsborough today.

“In some ways they are similar to ourselves,” Hughton said. “They have got the bulk of the squad they had last season. They have really developed over the last couple of seasons and they have added quality. Hooper is still there, Fletcher is a big signing for them and you know the quality of Forestieri. Jones from Burnley is a very good player at this level.

“He did well there and was a mainstay of their team last season, so they have added well to what was a very good squad anyway.”

Albion are waiting for confirmation of how long they will be without ankle injury victim Beram Kayal.

Hughton said: “We’ll have a clearer picture with Beram in the next few days.”