He was renting a spot in the first team earlier in the season, now he is threatening to move into the leftback position for good.

Sam Rents is the latest in a long line of youth team recruits beginning to make a significant impact for Dean Wilkins' Albion.

Rents is poised for his fourth start in succession at Oldham tomorrow. That may not seem much but it represents a major step forward for a player whose senior career kicked-off in un-nerving fashion.

Rents was booked minutes into his debut as a substitute at Bristol City for Mark McGhee's Seagulls.

A week later he was taken off by Wilkins, halfway through his full debut, in the manager's first match in charge at Millwall.

Rents did not re-appear in the starting line-up until the home defeat by Chesterfield at the end of September, when he made the goal for on-loan Aston Villa striker Sam Williams.

He found himself straight back out of the side again but, after a smattering of substitute appearances including his first senior goal against Northwich Victoria, Rents returned against Stafford Rangers earlier this month and has not looked back.

He was, in fact, not fazed at all by those early setbacks. "Millwall was disappointing if I look back on that game but I learnt a lot from it," said Rents.

"I was told not to dwell on it, not to let it get me down. I didn't, kept on going, and it has paid off.

"I thought I did okay in the Chesterfield game. We had a chat and it was more of a tactical thing why I was left out after that.

"I've been happy even being in and around the team. Now I have got a few consecutive starts under my belt I want to carry on from here, keep playing well and hopefully stay in."

Rents' main focus since returning to the side has been on his defensive duties, although he still found time to set up another goal against Swansea with a free-kick which Alex Revell headed in.

"I think I've done allright," he said. "I've been trying to concentrate defensively, have some solid games and then progress from there going forward, keeping the ball, so I'm learning every game.

"I'm taking one step at a time, just trying to get solid performances in. Once I get settled in I'd like to get forward as much as possible and hopefully get a few more assists.

"But I'm a defender, so my job is to defend the goal first. Anything else is almost a bonus."

Settling in has not been too difficult with so many familiar faces around. Rents' travelling partner is Tommy Fraser, while playing in front of him is Dean Cox.

"We have got quite a strong relationship now," Rents said. "We played in the youth team together. He used to play left midfield, so we bond quite well and our communication is good.

"Sometimes he pops up on the right wing. I just have to shout as loud as I can to get him back!

"I get on well with Tommy as well. Six or seven of us played together in the youth team, so we know each other's strengths and weaknesses. That really helps on and off the field."

The pattern of progress made by Rents suggests he has now arrived as a regular member of the team, not just the squad.

Competition for defensive places will, however, hot up again once Albion's injuries have cleared up, so the Hove youngster is taking nothing for granted.

"I'm happy with what I have done so far but now is no time to get complacent," he said. "I want to kick on from here, keep performing well, keep in the team, and keep on getting three points.

"Oldham are doing well this season. They like to get the ball down and pass but we have got a game plan and we are going there with a lot of confidence."