While Albion strive to get out of the Championship, one of their brightest prospects is enjoying himself trying to climb into the second tier.
The versatile Glen Rea has been on loan at Southend United since August.
When he joined them they had made their worst start to a season for 11 years, including an exit from the Capital One Cup at Roots Hall against Albion in which Rea made his senior debut for the Seagulls.
Four months and 14 appearances later for Rea, Southend head for Colchester on Boxing Day in seventh place in League One, outside the play-off zone only on goal difference, after a seven-match unbeaten run.
Rea, 21, said: "I'm really enjoying it. It's good experience for me to get some League football.
"The lads have been good, I've played some games, so it's going really well.
"We've been flying after coming up last season. I saw the potential there and we have some good players. We are showing it with the results we are picking up."
Republic of Ireland under-21 international Rea has two wise men to guide him during his stay at the Essex seaside. Phil Brown and former Albion captain and manager Brian Horton have renewed their Premier League partnership at Hull.
"Brian is a good guy," Rea said. "He has obviously got a lot of experience and he knows what he's talking about.
"It's tough. League football is different. I have been playing midfield as well, which is a different experience.
"I played in midfield last year for the under-21s and internationally I've played midfield sometimes."
Rea's two first team outings for Albion so far, at Southend and in the exit in the next round of the Capital One Cup at Walsall, were alongside Gordon Greer at centre-half.
He deputised for the injured Greer during pre-season after four appearances in the first team squad as an unused substitute last season, including Chris Hughton's first match in charge at Boxing Day hosts Brentford in the FA Cup in January.
Lewis Dunk's decision to commit his long-term future to Albion, the arrival of Connor Goldson and the Capital One Cup departure made a loan move for Rea logical to aid his development.
His spell at Southend is due to expire on January 2 but he may well remain out on loan, either there or elsewhere.
The Brightonian former season ticket holder at Withdean returned to the Amex recently to watch the under-21s against Arsenal. He is thrilled about the way the season is going for Hughton's side in his absence.
"I'm buzzing because I'm a fan as well," Rea said. "They are doing really well. It's great for the club, the fans, unreal. Obviously I'm loving it."
Rea resumes the European qualifying campaign with the Republic of Ireland under-21s in March in a group containing Italy after missing their last match in Lithuania through injury.
Rea's co-habitant at Albion, Christian Walton, is also nearing the conclusion of his loan stint back at his first club Plymouth Argyle.
It is getting a bit crowded at Home Park for the England under-21's keeper, who had a loan spell at Bury earlier in the season curtailed by injury.
After figuring in four winless games, Walton lost his place to the fit-again Luke McCormick in Saturday's 2-1 win at Hartlepool which lifted Argyle back to the top of League Two.
Manager Derek Adams said: "We have got three good goalkeepers to choose from, James Bittmer, McCormick and Walton."
Walton has three matches left of his loan stint, the visit of Yeovil on Boxing Day, an away game at Newport County 48 hours later and a trek to Carlisle on January 2.
Chris O'Grady has also been borrowed by his home city club. The Albion centre-forward has longer to make his mark, having linked up with Championship rivals Nottingham Forest on a season-long arrangement.
O'Grady has found goals as hard to come by in the East Midlands as they have been during his time with the Seagulls. He has scored twice in 14 appearances, in consecutive home wins against Reading and Fulham at the end of November and beginning of December.
That is one fewer than he has managed in 38 appearances for Albion, almost half of them as a substitute, since he was signed from Barnsley in the summer of 2014.
O'Grady, 30 next month, still has a year remaining on his contract when his loan expires. He cannot play for 15th-placed Forest when Albion visit the City Ground in April.
Original article
The versatile Glen Rea has been on loan at Southend United since August.
When he joined them they had made their worst start to a season for 11 years, including an exit from the Capital One Cup at Roots Hall against Albion in which Rea made his senior debut for the Seagulls.
Four months and 14 appearances later for Rea, Southend head for Colchester on Boxing Day in seventh place in League One, outside the play-off zone only on goal difference, after a seven-match unbeaten run.
Rea, 21, said: "I'm really enjoying it. It's good experience for me to get some League football.
"The lads have been good, I've played some games, so it's going really well.
"We've been flying after coming up last season. I saw the potential there and we have some good players. We are showing it with the results we are picking up."
Republic of Ireland under-21 international Rea has two wise men to guide him during his stay at the Essex seaside. Phil Brown and former Albion captain and manager Brian Horton have renewed their Premier League partnership at Hull.
"Brian is a good guy," Rea said. "He has obviously got a lot of experience and he knows what he's talking about.
"It's tough. League football is different. I have been playing midfield as well, which is a different experience.
"I played in midfield last year for the under-21s and internationally I've played midfield sometimes."
Rea's two first team outings for Albion so far, at Southend and in the exit in the next round of the Capital One Cup at Walsall, were alongside Gordon Greer at centre-half.
He deputised for the injured Greer during pre-season after four appearances in the first team squad as an unused substitute last season, including Chris Hughton's first match in charge at Boxing Day hosts Brentford in the FA Cup in January.
Lewis Dunk's decision to commit his long-term future to Albion, the arrival of Connor Goldson and the Capital One Cup departure made a loan move for Rea logical to aid his development.
His spell at Southend is due to expire on January 2 but he may well remain out on loan, either there or elsewhere.
The Brightonian former season ticket holder at Withdean returned to the Amex recently to watch the under-21s against Arsenal. He is thrilled about the way the season is going for Hughton's side in his absence.
"I'm buzzing because I'm a fan as well," Rea said. "They are doing really well. It's great for the club, the fans, unreal. Obviously I'm loving it."
Rea resumes the European qualifying campaign with the Republic of Ireland under-21s in March in a group containing Italy after missing their last match in Lithuania through injury.
Rea's co-habitant at Albion, Christian Walton, is also nearing the conclusion of his loan stint back at his first club Plymouth Argyle.
It is getting a bit crowded at Home Park for the England under-21's keeper, who had a loan spell at Bury earlier in the season curtailed by injury.
After figuring in four winless games, Walton lost his place to the fit-again Luke McCormick in Saturday's 2-1 win at Hartlepool which lifted Argyle back to the top of League Two.
Manager Derek Adams said: "We have got three good goalkeepers to choose from, James Bittmer, McCormick and Walton."
Walton has three matches left of his loan stint, the visit of Yeovil on Boxing Day, an away game at Newport County 48 hours later and a trek to Carlisle on January 2.
Chris O'Grady has also been borrowed by his home city club. The Albion centre-forward has longer to make his mark, having linked up with Championship rivals Nottingham Forest on a season-long arrangement.
O'Grady has found goals as hard to come by in the East Midlands as they have been during his time with the Seagulls. He has scored twice in 14 appearances, in consecutive home wins against Reading and Fulham at the end of November and beginning of December.
That is one fewer than he has managed in 38 appearances for Albion, almost half of them as a substitute, since he was signed from Barnsley in the summer of 2014.
O'Grady, 30 next month, still has a year remaining on his contract when his loan expires. He cannot play for 15th-placed Forest when Albion visit the City Ground in April.
Original article