Ibehre missing his strike partner

Ibehre will be relieved to have Michael Ricketts available again next week

Walsall star Jabo Ibehre says he will keep working hard as a lone striker, but admits he prefers to have another forward alongside him.

Top scorer Michael Ricketts misses Saturday's home game with Brighton through suspension.

"I'm just happy to be playing," Ibehre told BBC WM. "But I prefer to play up front with somebody with me.

"But if it falls to me to play up front on my own then I'll do the best that I can," added the 25-year-old.

As well as the absence of Ricketts, the Saddlers are also without injured defender Steve Roberts and midfielder Stephen Hughes.

"They're like the spine of the side," said Ibehre, "a centre half and a central midfield player who is the captain as well.

It'd be nice to get the New Year rocking and rolling. Hopefully we can now go on a bit of a run. Walsall striker Jabo Ibehre

"We've tried, you know. We've lost the players but we've tried to get results while they're away. But it only adds to our strength when they get back."

Last weekend's League One game at Carlisle was called off just a couple of hours before kick-off, which makes the Brighton fixture the Saddlers' first of 2009. And former Leyton Orient striker Ibehre says everyone is itching to get back on the field.

"It'd be nice to get the New Year rocking and rolling.

"There have been a couple of injuries, a couple of players carrying knocks who'll get back for Saturday's game giving us a stronger side."

Opponents Brighton provided Walsall with their most memorable result of the season so far back in the autumn when the Saddlers won 1-0 at the Withdean Stadium despite playing more than an hour with nine men.

"We showed great resilience against them earlier in the season," claimed Ibehre. "A fantastic game. So hopefully now we can go on a bit of a run again."