Nzuzi Toko featured as an over-age player for Albion's under-21s in their 2-0 win against Aston Villa at the Amex last night.
It is not the first time the 24-year-old Congolese midfielder has been involved in the development team and it probably will not be the last.
Toko was an unused substitute for Chris Hughton's first game in charge at Brentford in the FA Cup on Saturday, with the squad stretched to the limit by departed loans, injuries and illness.
The addition of central midfield experience is a priority for Hughton during the January transfer window, so opportunities for Toko are likely to be as limited as they have been since he signed.
He must have had high hopes when Albion announced at the end of May they had completed a deal with Swiss club Grasshoppers for Toko to join them as a free agent on July 1 on a three-year contract.
He had been identified by the subsequently overhauled recruitment department after more than 100 starts for the Zurich-based club and nine appearances for Switzerland's under-21s.
Toko's representative revealed at the time that he had rejected a more lucrative offer from Spartak Moscow, as well as interest from Budesliga outfits Augsburg and Hannover and Verona clubs Hellas and Chievo.
The Seagulls' first summer signing sounded like a bit of a coup, landing in the lap of soon-to-be-appointed manager Sami Hyypia, but it has not turned out that way so far for the multi-lingual African.
Toko, hampered by a knee injury in pre-season, has only played for 20 minutes in the first team.
That was at Burton Albion in the Capital One Cup at the end of September, when he came off the bench with Albion 3-0 up and the tie already won.
He played a key part in Albion's second win of the season in the Barclays under-21s League last night, supplying the cross for James Muitt to nod them into a 36th minute lead.
Original article
It is not the first time the 24-year-old Congolese midfielder has been involved in the development team and it probably will not be the last.
Toko was an unused substitute for Chris Hughton's first game in charge at Brentford in the FA Cup on Saturday, with the squad stretched to the limit by departed loans, injuries and illness.
The addition of central midfield experience is a priority for Hughton during the January transfer window, so opportunities for Toko are likely to be as limited as they have been since he signed.
He must have had high hopes when Albion announced at the end of May they had completed a deal with Swiss club Grasshoppers for Toko to join them as a free agent on July 1 on a three-year contract.
He had been identified by the subsequently overhauled recruitment department after more than 100 starts for the Zurich-based club and nine appearances for Switzerland's under-21s.
Toko's representative revealed at the time that he had rejected a more lucrative offer from Spartak Moscow, as well as interest from Budesliga outfits Augsburg and Hannover and Verona clubs Hellas and Chievo.
The Seagulls' first summer signing sounded like a bit of a coup, landing in the lap of soon-to-be-appointed manager Sami Hyypia, but it has not turned out that way so far for the multi-lingual African.
Toko, hampered by a knee injury in pre-season, has only played for 20 minutes in the first team.
That was at Burton Albion in the Capital One Cup at the end of September, when he came off the bench with Albion 3-0 up and the tie already won.
He played a key part in Albion's second win of the season in the Barclays under-21s League last night, supplying the cross for James Muitt to nod them into a 36th minute lead.
Original article