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Transfer news: Craig Mackail-Smith calls on Brighton to bring in experience

Craig Mackail-Smith Brighton
Image: Craig Mackail-Smith: Hoping to welcome fresh faces to Brighton

Craig Mackail-Smith would like to see an injection of experience into the Brighton & Hove Albion squad ahead of the new season.

Aaron Hughes and Chris O’Grady have been added to the ranks this summer, but the likes of Matt Upson, Leonardo Ulloa and Tomasz Kuszczak have been either sold or released.

New boss Sami Hyypia has regularly aired his desire to bolster the ranks at the Amex Stadium, but slow progress is being made.

There is still time, though, for seasoned professionals to be added to the ranks and Mackail-Smith believes they are much needed, with Brighton having fielded a side with an average age of 23 in a pre-season friendly with Crawley on Wednesday.

He said in The Argus: “If we get a few injuries we are struggling a little bit and we’ve got a very, very young team. Quite a few of them haven’t played much in the Championship.

“I think we need a few experienced players to come in but that’s obviously down to the gaffer and the chairman.

“They know the right people they want to bring in and hopefully that will be before the beginning of the season and we will be ready to go come the ninth (of August).”

While calling for new additions, Mackail-Smith is also looking to make his own mark in the 2014/15 campaign, with the 30-year-old striker having made his return to action in April after 13 months on the sidelines with Achilles and ankle problems.

He added: “I am getting through, that is the most important thing, pushing through every day.

“I haven’t done a pre-season for a year, so my aim is to get through it and feel strong and fit ready for the beginning of the season.”

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