ALBION could face a Connor Goldson repeat with Leon Balogun as he fights for game time for club and country.

The Seagulls fear the Nigerian international's patience will be tested by consistently losing out to dominant duo Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy.

Goldson left for Glasgow Rangers as he struggled to see a route past Dunk and Duffy.

The more experienced Balogun has found himself in the same situation since signing from German club Mainz last summer.

The 30-year-old did not feature at all for Albion under Chris Hughton in the last three months of the season.

Balogun's only appearances since February have been in two friendlies for Nigeria against Egypt and in Saturday's 0-0 home draw against Zimbabwe, the penultimate warm-up for the Super Eagles to the Africa Cup of Nations.

Graham Potter, Albion's new head coach, is still assessing his options in all departments of the squad.

The club remain keen on Portsmouth central defender Matt Clarke, although there has been no progress on clinching a deal at this stage.

Balogun, referring to his fringe role, told the club website: "I'm not going to lie, it’s never easy, but as I said, you always have to be ready to play.

"All I can do is show my levels in training on a consistent basis, which I think I have done, and what that has done is also force those two (Dunk and Duffy) to up their games as well – that’s been my way of contributing to the team even when I’m not playing.

"That’s been a positive because for me, the team always comes first. It’s not nice to be on the bench, but I’m experienced enough to deal with that and there are other areas where you can help, maybe as a mentor to the younger players and to encourage the whole team in the dressing room.

"Whatever position I’m in, whether I’m on the pitch or on the bench, I always give it 100 per cent."

Balogun is confronting a parallel battle for Nigeria to disrupt the partnership between Kenneth Omeruo and William Troost-Ekong.

He has one last chance to press his claims for a spot in Gernot Rohr's starting line-up in Sunday's final preparation friendly in Senegal before the Africa Cup of Nations gets underway in Egypt later this month.