Albion's recruitment of players so far this summer accidentally attaches an underlying message.

It has not been planned this way but more have been signed for the under-21s than the first team.

Glenn Murray and Steve Sidwell have been brought back to the club for the senior squad, Tyler Forbes and Ben Hall have been bought for the under-21s and Sam Adekugbe borrowed.

The signings of right-back Forbes from Fleetwood Town, centre-half Hall from Motherwell and left-back Adekugbe on loan from Vancouver Whitecaps emphasise a change in direction.

They have made plenty of first team appearances for the clubs they have left.

Previously, players who have not made it through the academy system of clubs like Chelsea, Spurs and Arsenal have been fertile ground for Albion's under-21s recruitment.

Centre-half Tom Dallison, from the Gunners, has revived his fledgling career with the Seagulls but many others have disappeared without ever hinting they were capable of making the step up to first team contention.

Now the goalposts have been moved and Albion have reacted accordingly.

The abolition of the emergency loans system this season means that, once the summer transfer window shuts at the end of August, manager Chris Hughton cannot look externally to cope with an injury crisis.

It will be the same story during the season. The January window will be the only chance for Hughton to ensure he has a squad equipped for the run-in.

That is why it is more important than ever before to bridge the gap in level between the under-21s and the first team.

Hughton took four players with him from last season's under-21s on the senior squad's training camp in Tenerife - first year pros Dallison and full-back Rob Hunt, together with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and winger Henrik Bjordal.

This kind of padding out pre-season is not unusual, especially as Hughton was without David Stockdale, Uwe Huenemeier and Solly March because of injuries as well as Jiri Skalak, who rejoined the group on Thursday from his extended leave after featuring for the Czech Republic in the Euro finals in France.

The difference this time is there is more chance of Albion's youngsters being called upon for first team duty in challenging circumstances.

The call could even come, for some of them, as soon as the first home game of the season, against Colchester United in the first round of the League Cup on August 9.

Hughton is likely to field something of a makeshift line-up for a fixture which falls three days after the opening Championship game at Derby County and only three days before the visit of Nottingham Forest, brought forward 24 hours for TV.

Dallison, considering Albion's current shortage in the centre of defence, could certainly be a contender.

Bjordal (below) is an interesting prospect. Hughton, along with Skalak and March, has Anthony Knockaert, Jamie Murphy and Kazenga LuaLua, so there is plenty of quality competition barring his route.

Bjordal is, nevertheless highly regarded both by his club and country.

Only 19, he is already a Norwegian under-21 international. He also broke into the team at Aalesunds, the top flight club Albion bought him from in January, when he was just 16.

Capable too of operating as an attacking midfielder, Bjordal has impressed in the short time he has been here and is one to watch.

Bjordal, Forbes and Hall all played a part on Wednesday evening in a 3-0 friendly victory for Simon Rusk's under-21s at Hastings United, where the goalscorers included Vahid Hambo and Jack Harper.

Finnish striker Hambo, whose first year with Albion was dogged by injury problems, and Harper, the Scot signed from Real Madrid, also have a chance to press their claims as viable back-up options for Hughton in the event of a crisis by performing well between now and the beginning of the season.

It remains to be seen whether Albion are invited, and accept, an invitation to make up the numbers in the revamped Football League Trophy, traditionally set aside for League One and Two clubs.

They will want to ensure they could field a competitive under-21s team in the competition but it could benefit them by way of preparation for being first team-ready.

One thing is sure, opportunity knocks for the under-21s this season like never before.