Chris Hughton believes Fikayo Tomori’s loan spell with Albion will help him thrive with England under-20s at the World Cup.

The Chelsea teenager was named yesterday in the Young Lions squad for the tournament in South Korea, 24 hours after his farewell appearance for the Seagulls.

Tomori made his third start and tenth appearance for Albion overall as centre-half deputy for the unwell Uwe Huenemeier in Sunday’s closing 1-1 draw at Aston Villa.

Hughton said: “He did well again. It’s been a really good learning experience for Tomori and he’ll certainly be a better player for it.”

Tomori, 19, has teamed up with England under-20s under Paul Simpson for a six-day training camp in Osaka, Japan, ahead of World Cup group games later this month against Argentina, Guinea and South Korea.

Albion have no plans at present to attempt to re-sign him. Hughton said: “It’s not something that we’ve discussed yet.”

Striker Chuba Akpom, also signed on loan in January from Arsenal, made less of an impact. Nine of the 21-year-old’s ten appearances were from the bench.

Hughton said: “It’s been a little bit more difficult for Chuba, because he hasn’t had the games he would have liked.”