Brighton and Hove Albion's visit to Burton Albion a reminder that club's recruitment has recovered

And the bleak summer of 2014 for which the Seagulls are still paying a price.

Chris O'Grady, contracted to the club until the end of the season, cannot play for the opposition under the terms of his latest loan switch.

The centre-forward has also been farmed out to Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest during two-and-a-bit unhappy years at the Amex.

He has made more starts for his three temporary employers (26 in total) than he has for Albion.

O'Grady is just one of several examples of the ill-fated alliance between former manager Sami Hyypia and ex-head of recruitment David Burke.

Albion visit the Pirelli Stadium today for the first time in the league. Their only previous trip, in the League Cup two years ago, yielded the biggest win of Hyypia's tenure.

O'Grady was among numerous fresh recruits in the squad that night for a routine 3-0 victory, destined to make limited impacts of varying degrees.

The defence included Aaron Hughes, midfield Gary Gardner and Paddy McCourt.

Danny Holla and Toko (above) were on the bench as alternative midfield options, along with striker Adrian Colunga.

All, apart from O'Grady, have gone, Toko's 20-minute cameo at the end turning out to be his only appearance.

Four other signings were made during the summer transfer window of 2014, with mixed results.

David Stockdale has established himself as Albion's No.1 after a shaky start, injuries and a lack of goals have blighted Sam Baldock since his move from Bristol City.

Joe Bennett did not impress sufficiently on loan from Aston Villa to persuade Hughton he was the solution to a left-back problem.

The shining light exception was Portugese playmaker Joao Teixeira (below), borrowed from Liverpool thanks to Hyypia's Anfield connections.

Hughton's first summer window, with Burke's successor Paul Winstanley and a more promiment role in the revamped recruitment set-up for chief executive Paul Barber, laid the foundations for the recovery from relegation to promotion candidates once more.

Tomer Hemed, Gaetan Bong, Connor Goldson, Jamie Murphy, Niki Maenpaa and Elvis Manu will all be in the squad today.

Liam Rosenior would have been but for a nasty ankle injury sustained at Reading last month, while Uwe Huenemeier's absence from contention is the product of long-term groin damage .

The German's rehabilitation is likely to continue at the Amex on Tuesday against Reading in the League Cup.

That leaves only Bobby Zamora from last summer's rebuilding programme. His return was a success, considering his age and a long-standing hip issue.

Recruitment errors are inevitable, it is the nature of the beast. The jury remains out, for example, on Manu, although there are signs the Dutchman may yet have something to offer.

The key is keeping the mistakes to a minimum. None of the five signings made this summer - Steve Sidwell, Glenn Murray, Oliver Norwood, Sebastien Pocognoli and Shane Duffy - are likely to fall into that category.

Hughton said: "The January window was probably one of the best, because we brought Knockaert and Skalak in, but I think the most important window was the summer before this one, my first summer.

"If you look at the core of the team, some of them came in that period. That enabled us to go into this summer not having to do too much work.

"It's no secret that we would have liked to have brought in one more forward but it's not too bad coming through this window maybe missing out on just one area.

"The significant window the summer before gave us a really good grounding for this summer and it was a lot easier this summer.

"Sidwell was done early. Glenn was on the agenda for quite some time, Seb was one we looked at last year. The nice surprise was Norwood.

"That was one we didn't think would become available and Shane really strengthens the back."

Repeating that League Cup result at Burton today maybe too much to ask but Albion are a much better side now than they were then.