There is no doubt who will start Albion's second season in the Premier League as No.1.

Mathew Ryan could return from the World Cup finals with Australia an even better goalkeeper than the consistent last line of defence in the Seagulls' successful quest for safety.

Ryan kept ten clean sheets in his debut campaign in the top flight of English football.

That is the same number as Everton's Jordan Pickford, the probable first choice of England coach Gareth Southgate for the World Cup in Russia next month.

The Argus: Ryan made 124 saves throughout the season. That figure was bettered only by Pickford's main rival for the England gloves, Jack Butland (above), at relegated Stoke (144) and Poland's Lukasz Fabianski (137) of Swansea, who also went down.

Only Fabianksi (three) saved more penalties than Ryan. The Aussie's second, to deny Wayne Rooney against Everton at Goodison Park in March, counted for nothing but the first which foiled Charlie Adam in the closing moments at Stoke the month before was crucial.

It preserved a point which maintained an unbeaten momentum at a key stage of the season.

Ryan, the smallest keeper in the Premier League alongside Pickford at just over six foot, also featured unexpectedly prominently in another area of expertise.

His 28 high claims were exceeded only by Fabianski (42) and England's third choice Nick Pope, of Burnley (57).

Ryan did not miss a match, an achievement emulated by four other goalkeepers - Pickford, Fabianski, Bournemouth's Asmir Begovic and Huddersfield's Jonas Lossl.

Tim Krul, the unfortunate victim of Ryan's reliability, did not get a look-in after ending his long association with Newcastle to join Albion.

Krul was a World Cup hero for Holland in unusual circumstances in the World Cup in Brazil four years ago.

Their quarter-final against Costa Rica was goalless and seconds from a penalty shootout when coach Louis van Gaal brought Krul off the bench at the expense of Ajax's Jasper Cillessen.

The surprise switch paid off as Krul saved two penalties in the shootout to send Holland through.

Ryan's first World Cup experience was contrastingly painful. He conceded three goals in each of Australia's group defeats by Chile, Holland (when Krul was again on the bench), and Spain.

Krul (below) believes that experience and Ryan's displays this season will stand him in good stead in Russia.

The Argus: "He just needs to continue the fine form he's been in," Krul told The Argus. "The World Cup is where you want to be as a goalkeeper, that's what you work for every day and that's the highest level you can be at.

"Playing in the Premier League week in and week out, he's on a high level anyway, so he is definitely looking forward to that.

"Staying up was obviously the target. From the moment I came in he stepped it up and hopefully as a club we can keep making steps."

Ryan's next step after an end-of-season break in Toronto is a training camp in Turkey with Australia. They have friendlies against the Czech Republic and Hungary in preparation for another tough World Cup group against France on June 16 (11am), Denmark on June 21 (1pm) and Peru on June 26 (3pm).

Ryan's outstanding season with Albion takes him into the World Cup in peak form and in the perfect frame of mind to face the likes of Paul Pogba against the star-studded French in Australia's group opener.

"Of all the lessons I've taken out of my first campaign with Brighton, the biggest one has probably been learning the fine line between respecting and over-respecting your opposition," Ryan said.

"It's important to respect your opponent, obviously. The moment you don't is the moment you start getting complacent and making mistakes. You don't prepare as best you can. You're too comfortable.

"Over-respecting your opponent is different. That's when you get awestruck by an occasion or a team or a player. You start overthinking things. You get distracted by the things you can’t control – who is playing striker, how they're going to come at you – rather than focusing on your own game.

"Being balanced. Finding your own rhythm. Preparing for the next shot. You end up giving your opponent more space and time on the ball instead of pressing and getting in their face.

"When you're over-respecting your opponent, you're playing against the ‘grand’ Messi, or the ‘great’ Özil, or the ‘incredible’ Pogba (below). When you're respecting them, they're just another good footballer you are trying to stop."

The Argus: Ryan, speaking to the playersvoice website, added: "I've learned this year that all these big-name players are human. That might sound obvious, but it's actually a massive realisation to arrive at in my profession.

"When you're face-to-face with the modern greats of football in high-pressure moments, and you see them experiencing difficulties under pressure just like you are, it changes the way you look at them."

The last of Ryan's ten clean sheets for Albion this season came against Pogba's Manchester United in the safety-sealing victory at the Amex earlier this month.

"Entering the United game, I wasn't getting caught up in the Marcus Rashfords, Juan Matas, Anthony Martials or Paul Pogbas in front of me," Ryan said. "That might have been the case a few seasons earlier. But it was all about respecting my opponents by being as prepared as I could be to stop them."

Ryan, has in turn, earned the respect of Albion's Premier League rivals after his impact on English soil.