Leo Ulloa is determined to stay in the Premier League for a fifth season in succession.

He just does not know where.

Whether it is with Albion, parent club Leicester or another destination, Ulloa believes he can still deliver at top level with a good pre-season under his belt.

The Argentinian, 32 in July, spoke candidly about his future after ending a 17-month goal famine in the Premier League in the 3-1 defeat by Manchester City at the Etihad.

Ulloa told The Argus: "I still think the Premier League is the best league. I want to play in the Premier League. If it is Brighton, so much the better, if not we'll see what happens.

"First of all I need a good pre-season. After we'll see. I would like to get in a good pre-season where ever I am, here at Brighton or Leicester or another club.

"I need that pre-season. after that I will be ready to play and come back like Leo.

"It has been a difficult year for me and last season as well. I know if I get a good pre-season I can do much better, physically and with football as well."

Ulloa has been starved of starting opportunities in the Premier League since leaving Albion for Leicester four years ago.

Fifty-five of his 96 appearances have been from the bench, which gives context to his tally of 19 goals.

The latest, at the home of the champions on Wednesday evening, ended a top flight drought stretching back to ten-man Leicester's late revival in a 2-2 draw at Stoke in December 2016.

His only goal since then had been for Albion against Coventry in the FA Cup at the Amex in February (below), so it was a relief for Ulloa to score and to sense he can recapture the form he showed in his first spell with the Seagulls, when he scored 23 goals in 50 games in the Championship.

The Argus: Ulloa said: "We knew it would be a tough game, but I'm happy because I started to feel a little different. I am trying to come back like a proper Leo when I played here or when I was good physically.

"I felt good. I have to play regularly. I want to play more, but it's difficult. I try to get the opportunity to score or help the team.

"Always for the striker when you score you are happy because strikers live off goals. That is important for confidence to try to help the team."

Ulloa would ideally like another crack at the Premier League with Albion.

He made that clear after his return to the scoresheet against City, but manager Chris Hughton would not be drawn on his future.

Ulloa's outing at the Etihad was only his second Premier League start since rejoining on loan from Leicester in January, such has been the form of rival No.9 Glenn Murray.

Albion's forward rosta for next season is in a state of flux. The way they play under Hughton, with Pascal Gross behind a central striker, leaves limited scope for target men like Murray and Ulloa.

Record signing Jurgen Locadia (below), a more mobile and versatile option, is likely to be more prominent in Hughton's plans next season after the Dutchman's settling in period.

The Argus: Although Tomer Hemed and Sam Baldock both remain under contract, they have rarely featured and will probably want to move on unless they can see a pathway back into the first team.

Ulloa still has a year left on his contract at Leicester, but he is unlikely to stay there unless there is another managerial change and a fresh opportunity.

Despite the unexpected joy of a Premier League winners' medal in his second season with the Foxes, Ulloa has only made 39 starts in four campaigns in the East Midlands under four different managers.

He agreed a new deal until 2019 at the start of the season, when Craig Shakespeare was in charge, but linked back up with Albion just three months after the appointment of Claude Puel.

The Argus: Ulloa (above) hopes for now that he has done enough to retain his place for Albion's final fixture against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp's side need only a point to secure a top four finish and Champions League qualification as security ahead of the final against Real Madrid later this month.

Ulloa said: "It's another tough game, but they are thinking about both sides. They want to stay in the top four, because they want to go to the Champions League.

"The other thing is they play in the final of the Champions League. We have to focus on that game, because they are so good."

Liverpool's requirement has eased from a win to a draw as a consequence of Chelsea being held by Huddersfield at Stamford Bridge, a result which means all three promoted clubs have survived.

Ulloa, who experienced the same relief in his first season at Leicester, said: "It's good credit for them. It's so difficult. The first season is so hard, at Leicester it was so hard as well. That is very important for clubs to try to keep up in the first year.

"It gives the confidence to carry on the work. Now they can build and focus on next season."

Whether Albion build with Ulloa is another matter.