Albion's supersub Colin Kazim-Richards has been told he must be fitter to warrant a regular place.
The young striker returns to the starting line-up against Hull at Withdean on Friday following his spectacular late consolation as a substitute in last Saturday's 5-1 defeat at Reading.
Kazim-Richards' long-range strike was his fourth eyecatching goal in 12 appearances off the bench, compared to no goals in the 11 games he has started.
Manager Mark McGhee said: "It's a worry and I think he has got to get fitter. It's difficult to do that mid-season. It's going to be next year before we get him really fit, because I think he is nowhere near as fit as he should be.
"He is able to come on in concentrated periods of games and be explosive, where as I think he finds that more difficult to maintain over 90 minutes at the moment.
"He's a naturally strong lad but strength and explosive pace over five or ten yards is different to general fitness.
"Leon's (Knight) a bit the same but there's a huge psychological element as well. They have got to hurt themselves to get as fit as we want them to be. Sometimes they don't quite push it. Trolley (Mark McCammon) sets the benchmark for the other strikers. He has phenominal strength, and on Friday will be the bench on which all the substitutes will be sitting"
Kazim-Richards' majestic impact at the Madjeski Stadium has assured the 19-year-old former Bury forward a place from the first whistle against Hull.
"He'll start on Friday," McGhee confirmed. "He scored the goal, he looked dangerous and strong, so he will get his chance again."
The young striker returns to the starting line-up against Hull at Withdean on Friday following his spectacular late consolation as a substitute in last Saturday's 5-1 defeat at Reading.
Kazim-Richards' long-range strike was his fourth eyecatching goal in 12 appearances off the bench, compared to no goals in the 11 games he has started.
Manager Mark McGhee said: "It's a worry and I think he has got to get fitter. It's difficult to do that mid-season. It's going to be next year before we get him really fit, because I think he is nowhere near as fit as he should be.
"He is able to come on in concentrated periods of games and be explosive, where as I think he finds that more difficult to maintain over 90 minutes at the moment.
"He's a naturally strong lad but strength and explosive pace over five or ten yards is different to general fitness.
"Leon's (Knight) a bit the same but there's a huge psychological element as well. They have got to hurt themselves to get as fit as we want them to be. Sometimes they don't quite push it. Trolley (Mark McCammon) sets the benchmark for the other strikers. He has phenominal strength, and on Friday will be the bench on which all the substitutes will be sitting"
Kazim-Richards' majestic impact at the Madjeski Stadium has assured the 19-year-old former Bury forward a place from the first whistle against Hull.
"He'll start on Friday," McGhee confirmed. "He scored the goal, he looked dangerous and strong, so he will get his chance again."
