The Italians have been enjoying Andrea Orlandi’s moment of FA Cup artistry of late.

His brilliant flick for Albion at home to Newcastle in January 2013 featured on a compilation of highlights put out by Novara.

The Serie B outfit signed Orlandi as a free agent following his recent departure from APOEL of Nicosia, initially until the summer but with the option of an additional season.

He made his debut on Saturday, playing until the second minute of added time in a 2-1 win at home to Spezia.

Orlandi’s super finish on 33 minutes in front of the South Stand sent Albion on the way to a 2-0 win over a Newcastle side with injury problems.

Will Hoskins slid home a fine finish in the 87th minute to settle the contest against a Toon outfit who had Shola Ameobi sent off in the second half for a foul on David Lopez.

Orlandi remembers the occasion vividly.

He said: “It was a great day, an early kick-off.

“I remember we were on it from the first minute.

“Gus (Poyet) played Gary Dicker in the middle to have more control and we dominated the game.

Gordon Greer had the ball. He looked up to me to kick it long.

“I was inside and the ball flew over me and I thought, ‘I will never get there’.

“Suddenly Wayne Bridge was galloping to get the ball and I knew he could only cross it if he was going to get on the end of it at all, so I went into the box.

“Wayne managed to cross it. I controlled the ball as I was turning and the only option was to volley it with the outside of my left foot.

“Craig Mackail-Smith was there too but I trusted my left foot more than his!

“Luckily it went in and it was a great moment.

“My in-laws were at the stadium that day and it was nice.”

Hoskins’ time with Albion was bedevilled by injury and Orlandi was delighted to see him notch the second from David’s pass.

He added: “I only played 60 minutes as I was coming back from a broken rib I had when we lost 3-0 at Palace.

“It was a special moment for us. After that game we started to believe that we were a real force in the Championship.”

Newcastle were a division above the Seagulls but only 13 league places separated the teams and the Toon line-up was arguably somewhat weaker than that they will field tonight.

Albion had beaten Newcastle at the Amex in the fourth round the previous season with a cross or shot by boyhood Toon fan Will Buckley flicking in off Mike Williamson.

Those two games are, until tonight, the only meetings between the two clubs at the Amex.

The most recent league meeting in Sussex dates back to December, 1991, when Albion were heading for relegation from the second tier.

They drew 2-2 with Ossie Ardiles' Newcastle before less than 8,000 at the Goldstone with Mark Farrington silencing critics on the terraces with a brave equaliser on 75 minutes.

Gary O’Reilly struck first for the Seagulls but Gavin Peacock and David Kelly had the Magpies in front by half-time.

2012-13 teams Albion: Ankergren; David Lopez, Greer, El-Abd, Bridge; Bridcutt, Dicker, Hammond (Crofts 83); Orlandi (LuaLua 60), Barnes, Mackail-Smith (Hoskins 71).

Newcastle: Elliot; Tavernier, Perch (Dummett 46), Williamson, Santon; Anita, Abeid (Ranger 46), Bigirimana; Obertan (Marveaux 71), Shola Ameobi, Sammy Ameobi.