Albion will have to get past Norwich's Brighton rock tomorrow to achieve their first Championship victory away from the Amex since mid-August.

Russell Martin makes his 200th appearance for the Canaries in the clash against his home town club at Carrow Road.

On Tuesday evening at Celtic Park, while Albion captain Gordon Greer looked on from the Scotland bench, country team-mate Martin was trying to repel Wayne Rooney and company in the friendly against England.

Martin played for England Schools Under-18s when Vic Bragg, long-serving member of Albion's youth coaching set-up, was the manager but qualified to represent Scotland through his father.

Like his international career, he has arrived at the point of collision with Albion via a circuitous route.

Back in 2004 Martin, now 28, was a right-winger when he had a spell with Albion's youth team, combining his quest to make a living out of football with his studies at Varndean College.

He was only with Albion two days a week and did not impress sufficiently to secure a more permanent arrangement.

A fleeting stint with Lewes was followed by a break into League Two with Wycombe Wanderers.

He helped Peterborough to promotion from League One, with Albion striker Craig Mackail-Smith as a colleague, then became part of the Norwich side promoted to the Premier League prior to their relegation last season.

Martin's rise on the club and country stage is no surprise to the father of another Brighton-born Championship centre-half.

Gary Elphick, whose son Tommy is leading Bournemouth's promotion challenge, was heavily involved in Martin's early development.

Elphick senior, a central defender himself with Stoke during his playing days, revealed to The Argus: "I had Russell with me at Woodingdean when he was about 13 or 14. He is the only player I have ever recommended.

"I recommended him to Brighton and they had him on trial. They said at the time he was probably the best trialist they'd had but not better than what they already had.

"Russell was the only player I would have hung my hat on becoming a pro. He could play.

"He was that special at normal youth level that he could cover any position but I always saw him as a right-back or centre-half.

"He was a very good athlete. Not only was he an above-average talent but, more importantly, he had a first class attitude and lived a clean lifestyle.

"That is why I felt so strongly he was of the right material to make it. I've seen a lot of talented kids, a lot who probably had as much ability. The difference was he had the whole package.

"I am in no way surprised by what he has done. I fully expected him to make the grade. I thought he was an outstanding prospect."

Promise fulfilled, it is a boy from Brighton now blocking Albion's path to three much-needed points.

* Later this morning on The Argus website the breaking news from Albion manager Sami Hyypia's pre-match press conference.