FLIPPING HECKE... WE’RE THE SOUTH COAST SUPERKIDS

Talented youngsters shine and help Seagulls shake off Trossard’s departure

BY

2 38, 63

BRIGHTON may have lost Leandro Trossard but their production line of talent shows no sign of slowing down.

Now the Seagulls are hoping no one else will be snapped up before the transfer window closes a week tomorrow.

Trossard became the latest to leave, moving to Arsenal last week and joining the likes of Marc Cucurella, Yves Bissouma and Dan Burn in seeking success elsewhere.

But this performance showed the South Coast club have plenty more talent emerging to shine at both ends of the pitch.

Dutch centre-back Jan Paul Van Hecke, 22, impressed on his full Premier League debut. And

Irish striker Evan Ferguson, 18, came off the bench to score an 88th minute equaliser with his third top-flight goal.

Van Hecke hopes the club can keep highly-rated young Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo, 21, this month amid bids from Chelsea after this battling point ensured Albion remain unbeaten so far this year.

He said: “If you look around there are a lot of young players, not only me and Evan. I think we have five, six really young players.

“We’ve a mix of younger guys with those who have a lot of experience like Lewis Dunk who I played next to.

“Everyone is really hopeful for the season and looking forward to it. We’re doing really well and playing really good football.

“I’m not sure what the club is doing with players, I don’t know, but I think everyone is staying for the moment.”

Japan World Cup star Kaoru Mitoma opened the scoring for Albion in the 38th minute by curling in a stunning right-foot shot from outside the box for his third goal in six games.

Substitute Marc Albrighton, who had been on the pitch for just three minutes, levelled after Harvey Barnes and Youri Tielemans had shots saved.

After the break Barnes put the home side ahead when he despatched Luke Thomas’ flickon from Albrighton’s corner.

But Brendan Rodgers’ side were denied their first win in five Premier League games since the World Cup break by Ferguson’s header from Pervis Estupinan’s superb cross.

Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi urged his men to get the ball out of the net and push for a winner.

Van Hecke (below), who went on loan to Blackburn last season, added: “Everyone had a feeling we could win but in the end we have to be happy with a point.

“Overall it was good. I had my first game and got a lot of experience from it.

“If you look around there are really a lot of good players – especially in my position. So you need to be patient and wait for it.

“Middlesbrough two weeks ago in the FA Cup was a good game for me.

“Now the chance came up and after three or four months that is a long time to wait.

“But I am happy to help now in the team.

“It is different to the Championship which was more up and down and balls in the air, but last season was good learning for me.”