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Midfielder looking to impress Brighton boss on trial.

Brighton & Hove Albion boss Micky Adams is keen to see if Chris Birchall can solve his midfield conundrum.
Birchall has linked up with the Seagulls on trial as he looks to secure a permanent move away from Coventry City.

He recently turned down an extended loan spell at Carlisle United and has also attracted interest from Major League Soccer.

However, he has opted to train with Brighton after he was signed for Coventry during Adams' time in charge at the Ricoh Arena.

Adams is aware of the Trinidad & Tobago's qualities and could look to tie up a deal after losing Steven Thomson to St Mirren.

"I know what he is capable of," said Adams. "He is a hard-working midfielder who can play wide or centrally.

"He hasn't played for Coventry this season and we are having a look at him to see if we fancy him and he fancies us."

Birchall's first chance to impress has been delayed, however, after Tuesday night's reserve match against Horsham was postponed due to a frozen pitch.

Brighton's League One game at home to Northampton, which was postponed on Saturday due to a frozen pitch, has been re-arranged for Tuesday February 24 at 7.45pm.
Adams wary over signing World Cup midfielder.
By Andy Naylor (The Argus).


Albion's interest in signing trialist Chris Birchall has been clouded by a potential club versus country clash.

Boss Micky Adams is keen to land the 24-year-old midfielder but is also wary of his international commitments with Trinidad and Tobago.

It could cool the Seagulls’ interest in Birchall as they digest losing out to League One rivals Carlisle in their bid to re-sign loan winger Joe Anyinsah from Preston permanently.

Albion had agreed a free transfer with Preston but the Championship club have now agreed an undisclosed fee with Carlisle, where Anyinsah was also on loan two years ago, and he is heading to Brunton Park instead.

Birchall is likely to be involved with Trinidad and Tobago in World Cup qualifiers away to El Salvador in February, at home to Honduras in March and in the USA in April.

Adams experienced the negative impact of the club v country conflict with Birchall after buying him for Coventry from Port Vale three years ago.

“What you have got to remember about the Trinidad and Tobago boys is that they play international football at weird times,” Adams said.

“When they go away and come back they are often jet-lagged. Chris at that time was back and forward from Trinidad to England and that really affects your body clock, so there were times when he didn’t start games.

“That has to come into the equation. It's no use signing somebody for the second half of the season and him being away three times. I don't see the benefit of that but he's an honest, hard-working player.

"I think any team would welcome him at this level. I bought him, I know what he is like, I know what he is capable of, I know what character he is. It didn't work out at Coventry for him after I left."

Birchall has been lined up by Adams to play in next Tuesday's rearranged reserve team game against Reading at Lancing (7pm).

Meanwhile, Adams has played down Albion's interest in Southampton's former Plymouth captain and midfielder Paul Wotton.

"Paul is not training with us at the moment," he said. "He's had a calf injury and there is a doubt about his level of fitness.

"That is not a definite thing anyway, he was coming in here to train."