It helps if the former England captain was a team-mate and is still a friend.

Joao Teixeira has been the chief architect of Albion's overnight transformation in form and results.

The capture of the gifted young Portugese playmaker on loan from Anfield to the Amex for the season is due to the enduring relationship between Albion boss Sami Hyypia and his replacement as Liverpool skipper back in 2003, Steven Gerrard.

Teixeira has revealed the go-between role played by Gerrard in the deal struck a fortnight ago which has sparked so much excitement and expectation among Seagulls supporters.

The 21-year-old told The Argus: "I knew about it from Steven Gerrard. He told me that Sami had called him, so he (Gerrard) spoke a little bit with me and everyone in the club told me how Brighton like to play, kind of similar to Liverpool, so it was the best choice for me to come here.

"Stevie is the main man in Liverpool, the captain, so you look at him as the main example, not just me but everyone in the changing room."

Teixeira also spoke at Anfield with manager Brendan Rodgers, his assistant Colin Pascoe and first team coach Mike Marsh.

He was advised that a drop into the Championship under Hyypia was a good option at this stage of his career.

So far so good. A promising debut as a second half substitute at Birmingham, before he had even trained with his new team-mates, was followed by an early goal and sparkling full debut in the win at Leeds.

He was not quite as influential against Bolton at the Amex last Saturday but still provided moments which lifted the crowd and he scored the winning goal.

Teixeira was given a standing ovation when Hyypia took him off in the closing stages. The attacking midfielder is revelling in the Finn's formation.

"It suits me," he said. "I have more freedom so it's good for me. We try to play the ball on the floor, have possession. I think we have the chance to have a good season.

"I knew he (Hyypia) had ten years at Liverpool and was captain. Last year we went to Anfield to watch a legends game and he was the captain of the international legends.

"That was the first time I saw him. I had never met him before I came here but I'd heard a lot about him.

"I'm enjoying it. He has great ideas and I want to learn with him because I think he can help me.

"I want to score, assist, help the team and I want to play because I need to play. I came here to play.

"I am still under contract at Liverpool and, of course, one day I'd like to play there but now I am here I am just thinking about Brighton and helping them."

Teixeira will be back in the starting line-up at the Amex against Chalton tomorrow after coming on in extra-time in Tuesday's hectic Capital One Cup success at Swindon.

Anticipation will be high again but Teixeira has an engaging innocence. Following his matchwinning contributuion against Bolton he described the Amex as the "Brighton stadium - I don't know the name."

The former Sporting Lisbon prospect also has no fears about the growing possibility of receiving special attention from Championship opponents. He said: "I'm not worried about that, I'll do my job. We've got our formation, our tactics. The manager knows how we should play. Every team is different.

"I think I played well (against Bolton) but I think I played better at Leeds. I have to keep working and improving every day. I'm young so I will try to do my best and help the team. This is the most important thing.

"At the beginning it was really hard when I came here (to England). Now I am used to it. English football is really exciting. Everyone likes to watch it so I'm happy to be part of it.

"Everyone knows the Premier League in England is the best place to play football. Ronaldo, Nani, so many players have come to England, Portugese players, Spanish players, and they have made it here. I wanted to play here and now I am I'm happy."