Leon Knight only committed himself to two months with Albion as a precaution after being 'stranded' on-loan at Sheffield Wednesday for the whole of last season, Steve Coppell says.
The 20-year-old Chelsea striker makes his Albion debut in the pre-season friendly at Barnet on Saturday hoping a permanent deal can be worked out at the end of his loan period.
Coppell believes Knight is testing the water, feeling once bitten, twice shy.
He said: "Leon is desperate to prove himself with us. It seems it has gone stagnant for him at Chelsea under the new regime.
"He didn't really show at Wednesday. It was a dormant season for him. I think he felt stranded having committed to all of the season with them.
"So we agreed a two-month deal so we could look at him and he could look at us."
Coppell declined to discuss whether Knight could move to Withdean on a permanent basis.
"There are a lot of issues. He has pace and is tricky but we both have to see if he can settle."
Coppell added: "He will play some part against Barnet but I haven't decided what part yet."
Centre-back Danny Cullip will continue on the sidelines.
The club's inspirational skipper has missed the friendlies at Crawley and Woking with a thigh problem.
Albion finish off their pre-season series at Yeovil next Friday and at home to Leicester on Monday week.
Coppell said: "I expect Danny to play again pre-season."
John Piercy misses the trip to Underhill with a stomach problem.
Coppell said: "We had tests done, he lost about half a stone. It has been diagnosed as colitis and should only keep him out for a week."
David Lee could miss the Barnet match with an ankle problem.
Coppell is set to give goalkeepers Michel Kuipers and Ben Roberts a game.
Albion will continue to play reserve matches at Worthing but Coppell is hoping for better conditions.
He said: "There wasn't one game on a decent surface where I could judge the players on football last season. Every game was either ankle deep in mud, bone hard because of frost or an end-of-the-season dust bowl.
"We've tried to help improve the pitch but we had to cancel a pre-season game because it wasn't ready."
Albion trialist Gaetano Gallianza will not be offered a deal.
The 20-year-old Chelsea striker makes his Albion debut in the pre-season friendly at Barnet on Saturday hoping a permanent deal can be worked out at the end of his loan period.
Coppell believes Knight is testing the water, feeling once bitten, twice shy.
He said: "Leon is desperate to prove himself with us. It seems it has gone stagnant for him at Chelsea under the new regime.
"He didn't really show at Wednesday. It was a dormant season for him. I think he felt stranded having committed to all of the season with them.
"So we agreed a two-month deal so we could look at him and he could look at us."
Coppell declined to discuss whether Knight could move to Withdean on a permanent basis.
"There are a lot of issues. He has pace and is tricky but we both have to see if he can settle."
Coppell added: "He will play some part against Barnet but I haven't decided what part yet."
Centre-back Danny Cullip will continue on the sidelines.
The club's inspirational skipper has missed the friendlies at Crawley and Woking with a thigh problem.
Albion finish off their pre-season series at Yeovil next Friday and at home to Leicester on Monday week.
Coppell said: "I expect Danny to play again pre-season."
John Piercy misses the trip to Underhill with a stomach problem.
Coppell said: "We had tests done, he lost about half a stone. It has been diagnosed as colitis and should only keep him out for a week."
David Lee could miss the Barnet match with an ankle problem.
Coppell is set to give goalkeepers Michel Kuipers and Ben Roberts a game.
Albion will continue to play reserve matches at Worthing but Coppell is hoping for better conditions.
He said: "There wasn't one game on a decent surface where I could judge the players on football last season. Every game was either ankle deep in mud, bone hard because of frost or an end-of-the-season dust bowl.
"We've tried to help improve the pitch but we had to cancel a pre-season game because it wasn't ready."
Albion trialist Gaetano Gallianza will not be offered a deal.
