It is thoughtful of Russell Martin to have played a role in Albion's promotion challenge - even if it is by accident.

The Brighton-born captain of Norwich has revealed he spoke to Alex Pritchard when the Spurs' playmaker was on the M25 preparing to sign for the Seagulls last summer.

Martin's intervention helped persuade Pritchard to do a U-turn (not literally) and move to the Canaries instead.

Seven months on, Albion have thrashed Norwich 5-0 at the Amex, are 20 points and six places above them in the Championship and Pritchard has made only 11 league starts.

The Seagulls rate him highly. They were prepared to obliterate their transfer record to land him.

Chris Hughton planned to use him as a No.10. We will never know for sure now, but it is hard to envisage Albion would have done much better than they have if Martin had not assisted in hijacking the deal.

 

It is a fascinating sub-plot to Albion's visit to Carrow Road on April 21, when some of Martin's mates might just be among the travelling fans taking advantage of the club's free travel offer.

That would not be a bad place for the Seagulls and Hughton - ditched too soon by Norwich - to clinch promotion.

Such a scenario is unlikely, since Huddersfield do not play their match in hand at Wolves until four days later and there are still two games to go after that.

It is rarely that straightforward with Albion.