91Èȱ¬

Brighton manager Gus Poyet is looking to bring in another striker with Craig Mackail-Smith likely to be ruled out for the rest of the season.

The Scotland international suffered an Achilles tendon injury in Albion's 0-0 draw at Bristol City on Tuesday.

Poyet told 91Èȱ¬ Sussex: "It looks like it could be a serious Achilles injury. The doctor is 99.9% sure he is out for the rest of the season.

"I absolutely hate the loan market, but I won't be so naive not to use it."

The Uruguayan's striking options had already been reduced after Will Hoskins sustained knee ligament damage last month.

And Poyet is keen to strengthen his squad to make sure their bid to make the Championship play-off stays on track.

"It changes things completely," he added.

"I like to have four strikers at least. Now we have two [in Leonardo Ulloa and Ashley Barnes] and Ash was not even on the bench [at Bristol]. Now we'll have to look for a striker."

The point at Ashton Gate kept the Seagulls in the play-off places and extended their unbeaten run to six matches and Poyet was content to accept a draw given the circumstances.

"It was one of those games that we said let's take something away, somehow," he said.

"The words at half-time were that it is not our day, nothing is going for us, we are not sharp and cannot pass the ball well - so let's make sure we do the basics.

"I won't analyse it or watch it again. It's the kind of one that you are happy with the point."