Uwe Huenemeier believes Albion’s under-23s deserve promotion after seeing their progress first hand.

The young Seagulls play Aston Villa in their play-off final at Villa Park today (midday).

Huenemeier, out of the senior matchday 18 for much of this term, has also turned out for the 23s.

They have been piling up goals and recently secured a couple of key wins, against Middlesbrough in the play-off semis and Crawley in the Parafix Sussex Senior Cup final.

Huenemeier said: “In the last few years they have improved dramatically.

“In the first year I was here they didn’t play good football, they couldn’t score goals and they lost quite a few games.

“In the last two years they have done really well.

“It is really a joy to play in that team because they play good football and they are good lads.

“It is still really hard for them to get to the first team.

“But it is good to know for the club they have got some really good young lads in the second team.

“They are trying really hard to progress.

“Hopefully they get promoted because they deserve it.”

Huenemeier is also a big admirer of the work his fellow countryman Jurgen Klopp has done at Liverpool.

Anfield stages the Seagulls’ final match of Huenemeier’s stint with the club tomorrow before he returns to play for Paderborn.

The former Dortmund defender said: “Next to Brighton I always follow Liverpool as a team because I played under Klopp.

“It’s nice to see them get to the Champions League final.

“More and more teams are probably trying to play a little bit like that.

“Our manager plays totally differently but we are successful as well.

“There is some old style of football, with two banks of four.

“But it is really amazing to watch Liverpool’s style of football. It is very offensive football.

“We play a little bit more defensive football but you have to play to your strengths.

“That is what we are and Klopp is doing it the other way.”