Sam Gargan has only been on the pitch for Albion for a few minutes but he may just already have created some sort of record.

There cannot be too many players who have featured for four different clubs at three different levels during the same season.

Gargan completed his unusual quartet when Dean Wilkins handed him his first team debut in place of Glenn Murray in the closing stages of last Saturday's 2-0 victory at Bristol Rovers.

The rookie striker is part of the guinea pig age group which went from two-year scholars straight to full pros after the three-year scholarship was done away with.

To bridge that final year gap, Gargan has been loaned out this season to Worthing in Ryman one south and two Blue Square south clubs, Bognor and Welling, where together with defender Sonny Cobbs, he has been guided by former Albion midfielder Richard Carpenter.

Gargan, 19, said: "I did well at Worthing, then I didn't have a very good patch at Bognor.

"I went to Welling and did well and then I got my chance on Saturday. I don't know if it is good to be playing for four clubs but I'm happy.

"When I was given my first pro contract that was the idea, to go out on loan and get some experience of playing with men.

"I have found it all right. Non-league football is a bit rougher than it used to be in the youth team but I went to learn and to be bigger and stronger.

"I'm a target man striker, sort of Alan Shearer, winning headers, keeping hold of the ball, bringing other people into the game and scoring goals."

Gargan was preparing to play for Welling at Havant and Waterlooville on Saturday but doubts over the well-being of both Murray and Jonny Dixon prompted a welcome change of plan.

A phone call from coach Ian Chapman revealed that the gangly Brightonian would be making the journey West to the Memorial Stadium instead.

"I didn't know I was going to be on the bench because it was a 19-man squad and then it got to the end of the game and they just decided to bring me on, which was great for me," said Gargan.

"I was a little bit nervous. At half-time I had an idea I might get on but once I got onto the pitch I was fine.

"When I went on I was up front with Nicky (Forster). He has been to some places in his career so it was good to come on next to somebody with so much experience. He was talking me through it."

Careers can blossom from such brief beginnings. Dean Cox, who reached 100 appearances for Albion against Rovers, made his debut in similar circumstances.

Gargan said: "That would be great, I would love to do that. Obviously Coxy has done well.

"He broke through in a pre-season. I am hoping to be here next season and to do the same.

"The main thing now is getting a contract and trying to cement a place in the team."

Gargan scored 20-plus goals in total for his temporary employers.

Wilkins said: "He's done well. It is a challenge for players mentally when you are farming them out to give them competitive men's football and then trying to make a judgement on whether they are going to be good enough to progress to our first team.

"It has been a good experience for him. He's a tall lad and they cam sometimes take a bit longer to develop physically but he has good aerial power, he can hold the ball up and he has showed he is capable of scoring at the levels he has been playing at."