Graham Potter on Brighton January transfer plans and Jayson Molumby future

Molumby, 21, hoped this would be the season where he would breakthrough into the Premier League and become a regular in the first team with Brighton.

The Ireland international midfielder enjoyed a successful loan in the Championship with Millwall last campaign and started this season with Brighton with encouraging displays in the Carabao Cup.

But pushing into the Premier League team has proved a tough ask and his only appearance so far was as an 89th minute substitute for Pascal Gross during the 2-1 win at Aston Villa.

Molumby was an unused sub last time out during the 1-1 draw at Sheffield United and he is in contention once again for tomorrow's trip to West Ham.

Competition for a starting role in Graham Potter's midfield is fierce and the return of Jakub Moder, who is back in January after being recalled from his loan with Lech Poznan, will limit Molumby's chances further.

"There is no plan," said Potter when asked what will happen to Molumby this January transfer window. "We have some games coming up and our focus is on that.

"Football is like that and things can change quickly. We know with all our players there is a conversation to be had when the window is open because they are human beings.

"They have views on what is right for their career so you have to respect that. But there is no set plan in place. Jayson was in the squad at the weekend.

"He has trained with us today and we like him a lot but to break into a Premier League team is not so easy. We can talk about Jayson Molumby but we can also talk about other players that are not playing if he is playing.

"That's just the reality of competition at the highest level. But Jayson is a good guy, he is ambitious and he wants to play which is a good quality to have and we enjoy working with him."

"Nothing is beyond the realms," added Potter when asked if he will loaned out this January. "We need to assess and take the right decision for the player and the club and we will do that at the right time."

Moder, who joined for £10m last summer, returns from his loan deal on 1 January, having made 22 appearances for Poznan this campaign, netting five times in domestic and Europa League matches.

“Jakub is slightly different to what we have in terms of his attributes," said Potter. "His range of passing is impressive, he's a young guy who has had some really good experiences already and he wants to take the next step.

“We need to help him settle in and he will add to what we have already got. He's an intelligent footballer who fits the profile of what we're trying to do in terms of age and ambition.

"The next thing to do is to support him when he gets here.

“He is having a little break now, but he won't have missed that much time so I don't have any worries when he comes to us.

"It's just about settling into a new environment, getting to know his teammates, the club and the league. That's the big challenge.”