BOSS Chris Hughton says two-goal hero Pascal Gross has a vital part to play in keeping Albion in the Premier League.

The German struck either side of half-time in the 3-1 win against West Brom at the Amex, the Seagulls' first in the top flight for 34 years.

Gross, Albion's first summer signing from Ingolstadt following promotion from the Championship, has been handed the number ten role pivotal to the way Hughton has set up the team.

Hughton told The Argus: "That's where I saw him. You have only got to look at the best and the strongest teams in the division and generally none of them play 4-4-2.

"I'm not saying I wouldn't go that way and sometimes Pascal's position almost seems like a 4-4-2, but I think you need that type of player that can play as a ten.

"Izzy Brown is another who I have brought in mainly for that position, although he can play wide. I think you need that against the bigger and stronger teams."

Hughton believes goals from areas other than the out-and-out strikers will be key again, especially after Albion missed out on bolstering their firepower at the end of the transfer window.

"I think it's going to be massive for us," he said. "We have Tomer (Hemed), Glenn (Murray) and Sam Baldock who is out injured and will be for a while. We can't rely on the number nines to get all our goals.

"We proved last season we can get goals from elsewhere, particularly with Anthony (Knockaert). Davy (Propper) showed in midweek he can score goals (for Holland), so that will be vitally important for us."

Albion have four points from their opening four games ahead of Friday evening's visit to Bournemouth, who have lost their first four matches.

Hughton said: "It feels like a big win, because it's our first one. No disrespect to West Brom, it's always going to be tougher to get points against the top six, so there are always a big group of teams we are more likely to get results against.

"To get three goals in the Premier League for us, a team that has just got promoted, that's a really good day. We need to make sure we take it on."

Skipper Bruno, forced off in the second half, is an early doubt for the Bournemouth game with a recurrence of back trouble.

"It's just aggravating him a little bit at the moment, but I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of it," Hughton said.

On-loan Brown is back from Chelsea after limping out of the opening day defeat by Manchester City with a hamstring injury.

Hughton said: "He'll be training on Tuesday. Whether it will be too quick for Bournemouth we'll see, but it will be good to have him back training."