Jake Forster-Caskey says going out on loan played a big part in his progress with Albion.

The teenage midfielder could not be happier with the way his career is developing with the Seagulls.

He believes his rise through the ranks to first team squad regular was helped by a loan spell at Oxford United in the basement division last season.

Forster-Caskey took the plunge two summers ago by joining the League Two outfit when Gus Poyet was in charge.

He played 20 games for them in the space of four months – more than doubling his outings for the Seagulls in the previous three seasons.

The 19-year-old has made 19 appearances under Poyet’s successor Oscar Garcia this season, a major breakthrough.

Forster-Caskey, stepson of former Albion skipper Nicky Forster, told The Argus: “I thought about it (Oxford) and had a good conversation with my agent, my stepdad and other people.

“I thought it would be beneficial for me to go out, play games and see what it was like to play consecutive games in a really tough league.

“I needed that from a personal point of view, because I wanted to prove to people I can play week in and week out.

“Now that I am playing more games I think it obviously worked and the plan was right.”