It was a torrid 45 minutes at Selhurst Park almost two years ago which led to Chris Hughton losing faith in Ezequiel Schelotto.

The right-back, known as El Galgo, had a tough time as Crystal Palace took the derby honours 3-2, all goals coming in the first half Hughton brought back Bruno to help secure safety and only gave Schelotto one final fling, in the last-day mauling at Anfield.

Half a season totally out of favour followed.

Then came a loan move to Chievo, where his stint was ended by a serious knee injury.

So Schelotto ended up back at the Amex last summer, when he made it clear that he was intent on staying with Albion this season under Graham Potter’s command.

That fresh start or clean slate has been seized upon and Schelotto, who was in tears when he made his comeback as sub against Everton, is one of the feelgood stories of Albion’s season.

He is back in the squad, has started the last two games and is eyeing a new deal when his current contract expires at the end of the season.

Last week at Sheffield United, he gave a suitably feisty display, full of attitude, which summed up Albion’s defiance in hostile surroundings.

Seagulls supporters lapped it up when he went off giving a wave to Blades fans who had booed him.

None of which means he will be in the team tomorrow.

That is how things work in the Albion right-back berth.

(Although, if Potter goes with wing-backs, Schelotto will be favourite for a place in the XI).

But he is very much in the thick of Potter’s thinking and has won fans over, too.

Asked whether we saw a new dimension of Schelotto at Bramall Lane, Potter replied: “That is the side we see most of the time!

“He is a bit of a fighter. I think he likes it when it is like that. That is how he plays the game.

“He gives his best when he goes on the pitch.

“To battle back from that injury is not so easy.

“I am happy he is playing, that he has come back from that and now we need to carry on and we need to try and win.”

Schelotto said his “suitcases are empty” when he made it clear he hoped to stay beyond the end of this season.

That was during an interview with The Argus after the recent draw at home to Watford.

Potter says it is not really time to sort that out as yet.

He said: “We are concentrating on winning football matches.

“I think he is the same position as us. He wants to try and be on the pitch, play football, help us achieve what we want to achieve.

“At the end of the season, we will see where we are at.

Martin Montoya was at right-back when Albion drew 1-1 at Selhurst Park in December.

He had a decent match but was caught out by Wilf Zaha when the home man scored the equaliser.

Albion seemed happy to send Zaha down the outside as they protected their 1-0 lead.

But Zaha flashed a fine finish past Mary Ryan to secure his side a point.

Zaha will be a the big threat again tomorrow, no matter who defends him.

Potter said: “He is a top player but they have also got other good players as well.

“They have got Benteke, they have got Ayew who I know from my time at Swansea and he is doing well fir them this year.

“There is a good attacking unit there and a midfield unit who are very experienced.

“They are really well organised and then they have someone like Zaha as part of their attacking unit.”