Maty Ryan has joined Albion’s list of international captains.
The Seagulls goalkeeper led Australia out for yesterday’s World Cup qualifier away to Chinese Taipei.
Club-mate Aaron Mooy was lively as the Aussies enjoyed a 7-1 win.
Ryan had no chance with the home goal, a powerful header from close range.
Both he and Mooy then boarded their 13-hour flight back from Taiwan to England as their thoughts turn to Albion’s trip to Aston Villa on Saturday.
Ryan, earning his 58th cap, said of captaincy: “It is a privilege. It was just important to go out there and business continues as usual.
“The team has a bunch of leaders out there.
“I guess the coaching staff recognise me as an example and I appreciate the opportunity I had to lead them out tonight. It’s a nice feeling.”
Albion left-back Gaetan Bong skippered Cameroon in a friendly against Neymar’s Brazil a year ago.
But club historians have been racking their brains as to the last Albion player to lead his country in competitive action.
Aaron Hughes captained Northern Ireland but not during the 2014-15 season, when he was with the club.
The late Tony Grealish skippered the Republic of Ireland while playing for Albion in the 1980s.
Jayson Molumby, the Seagulls midfielder currently on loan to Millwall, led out the Republic’s under-21s again yesterday as they lost 1-0 in Iceland.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here