Sami Hyypia: Brighton boss staying patient in hunt for striker

Hyypia was appointed Brighton manager in June on a three-year deal

Brighton & Hove Albion boss Sami Hyypia says he may have to bide his time as he looks to bolster his forward line.

Only four Championship clubs have scored fewer than the 17 goals the Seagulls have managed in their 17 league games this season.

"It is very difficult to bring in someone with the kind of quality that we need," Hyypia told BBC Sussex.

"If we need to wait for the right one until January then we will, and try to work on the players we have."

The main three strikers Brighton have used so far this season - Sam Baldock, Craig Mackail-Smith and Chris O'Grady - have only scored four goals between them while forward Adrian Colunga has chipped in with two goals.

"We can't bring similar players to what we already have," Hyypia, 41, added.

"We need to find somebody or something else which we don't have."

The Sussex side have won one of their last 13 games in the Championship and are currently one point above the relegation zone.

Asked if Brighton could wait until January to bolster their attack, the Finn replied: "It's not up to me.

"If it happens as soon as possible, that would be great.

"But if it doesn't we can't rush things. We need to get one in but we need to wait for the right one."

Brighton already have six players on loan, one more than the number allowed in a match-day squad.

However, keeper Ali Al-Habsi, utility man Greg Halford and winger Elliott Bennett are all at the Amex on one-month loan deals, allowing Hyypia some leeway should he bring in another player on a short-term contact.

In the meantime, the former Liverpool defender and ex-Bayer Leverkusen boss is keen to work with his current forwards during the international break.

"I think repetition for scoring goals is very important," he said.

"You need to make sure you concentrate on it in training - not close your eyes and hit it as hard as your can. You don't have to break the net.

"We have a few days off now and with the difficult time we are going through, sometimes it is good to have a mental break and think of something else for a while.

"Maybe then your head is in a better state to work on the training pitch. Hopefully one of them gets the confidence to put the ball in the back of the net."