Striker Dean Bowditch says he is happy to go out on loan in order to play first team football. The former England U19 international is in contention for a place in Jim Magilton's squad for the first time this season when the Blues travel to West Brom on Saturday.

Bowditch, who scored a hat-trick for the reserves against Southend on Monday, told the club site that he instigated his spell at Brighton midway through last season: "I went up to him [Magilton] and asked if I could go out on loan and I got injured whilst I was out there, which was a bit of a downer.

"But first team football is what I need and if he is comfortable with the strikers he's got at the moment, it'll have to be elsewhere."

Brighton have expressed an interest in the 21-year-old returning to the Withdean Stadium earlier in the summer, while Millwall and Southend have also been linked.

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