ALBION boss Chris Hughton has hailed Pascal Gross as a bargain buy after his latest goal role.

The German No.10 provided the cross for Glenn Murray’s equaliser in yesterday’s 1-1 draw against Southampton at the Amex.

Gross now has five assists in ten Premier League games - a record bettered only by Manchester City duo Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva - and two goals since the Seagulls snapped him up from Ingolstadt in the summer for only £3 million.

Hughton told The Argus “We knew before he came here he was capable of assists, because of the type of player he is.

“But to be doing it at this level as a new player just into the Premier League is outstanding.

“In Premier League terms there’s not an awful lot you can get for that sort of money, particularly now. Credit to our scouting department that made me aware of him quite some time ago.

“One is his assists but more importantly it’s about what he is giving to the team. He gives us a work ethic and desire to want to do well. That comes first.”

Murray nodded his third goal in two games from Gross’s cross following his double at West Ham to cancel out an early Steven Davis header for Southampton.

Hughton said: “I thought it was an excellent header and there’s only one place that he could score – right in that corner.”

Albion are 12th, where they started the weekend. Leicester edged above them on goal difference in ex-Southampton boss Claude Puel’s first match in charge with a 2-0 home win over Everton.