Sam Adekugbe has got something in common with many of Albion’s diehard bunch of travelling fans.

He got up at a very silly time in the morning to watch the Seagulls’ promotion decider at Middlesbrough.

The young Anglo-Canadian left-back did not wake before dawn so he could catch a bus or train to Teesside.

He was up at 4am, local time, back in Vancouver to watch television as the players he had called friends take their big shot at the Premier League.

The Canada international trained with Albion for a month last winter during the close season at his MLS club Vancouver Whitecaps.

Now he is back on this side of the Atlantic, on loan for the Championship season and hoping to help line up another big occasion by getting past Oxford United in the League Cup.

Who knows where that could lead for a man who makes no secret of his ambition to play league football in England?

For now, the 21-year-old who was born in London, spent part of his childhood in Manchester and moved to Calgary with his family when he was 11, is just happy to be back.

He told The Argus: “After my month’s training here I returned to my club but there was the chance to come back on loan.

“I want to be playing football in England and I think, when a team reaches out to you, it’s a sign they want you and see you progressing into their first team environment.

“I thought deeply about it and it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.

“I was here for a month so I was able to see what it is like, what the expectations were, how the environment is and I think I enjoyed it so much I wanted to come back if there was a possibility.”

Adekugbe had previously trained with Liverpool and Glasgow Rangers as his Whitecaps coach looked to get him some valuable experience.

The Argus:

Adekugbe training with Albion last winter

Albion chief executive Paul Barber previously worked for Vancouver.

Adekugbe said: “I’d done training stints before but this one was a little bit longer, it was a month.

“There was a bit of familiarity with Paul Barber and I knew the transition would be very smooth.

“I guess it exceeded my expectations because I was able to train with the guys.

“I got along with the guys very well.

“I think it went perfect in a sense of me coming across, them taking care of me and me trying to showcase what I’m about.”

Adekugbe grew up as a Manchester City fan thanks to a few years as a kid in Moss Side before his parents sought more tranquil surroundings at the foot of the Canadian Rockies.

But he found he suddenly had a keen interest in the Championship promotion race last spring.

“I had a good relationship with a couple of the boys. I’d always be checking the scores.

“I watched Brighton matches when they went to Middlesbrough and things like that.

“I think when you become close to people, you want to check on how they are doing.

“If I hadn’t come back to Brighton, I’d still have checked on them because I’ve seen them and I know what they are about.

“Middlesbrough was pretty early – about four in the morning!

“But I watch a lot of football and the matches are always in the morning for us.

“There have been times when me and my brother have been up at 4am watching Manchester City or watching FA Cup finals at 8am.

“You’re not going to get better if you don’t watch football.”

Adekugbe was happy enough with his efforts in the 4-0 win over Colchester in the first round.

Tonight’s tie is likely to offer a step up in intensity away to a League One side who won promotion with a bit of style last term.

But the chance to start a game and impress is valuable.

Adekugbe has made just one start in MLS this year and it came at the iconic Yankee Stadium in New York.

Start spreading the news and all that – but places like the Kassam Stadium are the land of opportunity for Albion’s young defender.

“It was tough at Vancouver,” he said. “The boys were doing well and it was hard to break into the team.

“All I could do was train hard and, if an opportunity came, I had to take it.

“They didn’t come around as often as I would have liked but, at the same time, you are still going to learn a lot.

“I’m a young player and I need to play games but I’m still learning as well in terms of how to cope with disappointment, how to cope with not being in the squad.

“I was always involved, whether that be on the bench or being with the squad.

“I have a couple of seasons left there. I’m still a Vancouver player as much as I want to prove myself here.

“I am happy (at Vancouver) but, at the same time, I wouldn’t be truthful if I said I didn’t want to play in England.

“This is obviously a perfect time to come in and show what I can do.

“If things don’t go well, then they don’t go well.

“At least it’s a chance I’ve taken and I’m responsible for.”