Albion boss Sami Hyypia wants to build on the explosion of youth under Oscar Garcia.

England Under-21 call-ups Jake Forster-Caskey and Solly March, and rookie Rohan Ince, were all regulars in Oscar’s first team squad last season.

The Spaniard’s successor is keen to maintain the youth momentum at the Seagulls’ new training ground and academy in Lancing.

Hyypia said: “There’s a good academy here so I hope a few of the youngsters will step ahead and make the step up to the first team.

“I like the fact the academy is here (at Lancing) as well, because the young players then sometimes have a peep at the professional players. When you are young you need idols and you need to see them.

“The young players will see the pros coming and going and I as the manager as well can see which young players will break through in maybe a few years, so that’s good for me as well.”

Hyypia wants someone he can learn off as his No.2 after former Bayer Leverkusen accomplice Jan Moritz Lichte turned down the job for family reasons.

He said.“I’d like to have someone who can improve me as well and question everything I decide. I think it’s good to have a second opinion and somebody asking questions but I’m not in a hurry.”