Leon Best makes his debut for Albion against Ipswich at the Amex tonight after signing on loan from Blackburn Rovers for the rest of the season.
In the January transfer window, when signings are notoriously difficult, the struggling Seagulls have landed a striker with Premier League pedigree and a point to prove.
Here's ten facts about Best, followed by a BBC interview when he was at Newcastle, talking about his tough upbringing on the notorious St Ann's estate in Nottingham.
* Signed by Chris Hughton for Newcastle for £1.5m from Coventry, at the same time as Mike Williamson and Wayne Routledge
* Made his pro debut on his 18th birthday against Newcastle in the Premier League for Southampton, coming on in the second half with Peter Crouch
* One of 145 players to have scored a hat-trick in the Premier League, on his first start in the top flight for Newcastle at home to West Ham
* Qualified for Republic of Ireland through his mother, who is from Bluebell in Dublin
* Had a tattoo of mum on his chest when he was 14. "She was angry at first, but then emotional". Another tattoo says 'sky's the limit'
* Played his last 90 minutes on loan to Sheffield Wednesday at Nottingham Forest in April
* Scored his last goal in win for Sheffield Wednesday at Bournemouth in April
* Team-mates at Hillsborough ribbed him about looking like Canadian rap superstar Drake
* Albion are his tenth club. Has 59 career goals in 186 starts + 85 sub appearances
* Has nine-month-old twins, son Jetson and daughter Hono
Original article
In the January transfer window, when signings are notoriously difficult, the struggling Seagulls have landed a striker with Premier League pedigree and a point to prove.
Here's ten facts about Best, followed by a BBC interview when he was at Newcastle, talking about his tough upbringing on the notorious St Ann's estate in Nottingham.
* Signed by Chris Hughton for Newcastle for £1.5m from Coventry, at the same time as Mike Williamson and Wayne Routledge
* Made his pro debut on his 18th birthday against Newcastle in the Premier League for Southampton, coming on in the second half with Peter Crouch
* One of 145 players to have scored a hat-trick in the Premier League, on his first start in the top flight for Newcastle at home to West Ham
* Qualified for Republic of Ireland through his mother, who is from Bluebell in Dublin
* Had a tattoo of mum on his chest when he was 14. "She was angry at first, but then emotional". Another tattoo says 'sky's the limit'
* Played his last 90 minutes on loan to Sheffield Wednesday at Nottingham Forest in April
* Scored his last goal in win for Sheffield Wednesday at Bournemouth in April
* Team-mates at Hillsborough ribbed him about looking like Canadian rap superstar Drake
* Albion are his tenth club. Has 59 career goals in 186 starts + 85 sub appearances
* Has nine-month-old twins, son Jetson and daughter Hono
Original article