Brighton & Hove Albion boss Gustavo Poyet has urged Ashley Barnes to put in a strong performance when he returns from a seven-match ban against Blackpool this weekend.

The striker was handed the suspension for allegedly tripping referee Nigel Miller at Bolton Wanderers last month, and his manager has made it clear that he is only in the starting XI because of injuries to Craig Mackail-Smith and Will Hoskins.

"I think he is lucky. If Macca or Hoskins were fit and playing all right, Ash would not have a chance to come back, it's as simple as that," Poyet told reporters.

"I hope he uses that luck for the good of the team. That means performing and not doing anything silly.

"If he can do that and helps us we will help him like we always do. It's a two-way thing, so we'll see. If he plays he'll have a chance to help us."

Brighton, who go into the Blackpool clash in fourth place in the table, can move within two points of Watford above them with a win this weekend.