Matt Heath does not know quite how management will have changed the man he met as an easy-going figure on the training ground.

But the Colchester central defender, who hopes to face Albion on Saturday, is convinced Gus Poyet has the style to be a long-term success.

Heath is fighting for a starting spot in Saturday against one of his old clubs in a six-pointer at Withdean.

Albion fans might remember his six games on loan in the later stages of the difficult 2008-09 campaign, including a debut goal in front of hordes of away fans at Leyton Orient as Russell Slade took charge for the first time.

So much has changed at the club that none of the 16 names on the Albion team sheet that day will be in Poyet’s squad on Saturday, barring a dramatic return for Adam El-Abd.

Tommy Elphick and Glenn Murray were out injured at the time but returned to action before Heath left so he might catch up with them on Saturday.

But he will also see a couple of familiar faces from his days at Leeds, where he worked with Poyet and goalkeeper Casper Ankergren.

The experienced 29-year-old from Leicester said: “Dennis Wise took me to Leeds when Gus was his assistant.

“I’d played for Dennis at Leicester and Coventry but didn’t know Gus at the time.

“It doesn’t surprise me Gus is doing well, though.

“I know it’s his first actual manager’s job but you could tell he would be a success just from his presence on the training ground.

“People respected what he had done in the game as a player.

“Players enjoyed learning from him. He was very approachable as a No. 2 and liked to have a bit of fun.

“I’m sure he has brought that to being a No. 1 “Casper signed when I was there and did well.

“It was always nice to score past him in training because he would get really wound up by it!

“But it will be nice to see him again.”

The only other former Albion team-mate Heath will play against if he gets on this weekend is Gary Dicker, the two players’ loans back in 2009 having briefly overlapped.

It is 20 months since Heath joined Albion on loan essentially as cover for Elphick and Adam Hinshelwood.

Changes since then have been massive.

It is hard, for example, to imagine Poyet bringing in five short-term loan signings and giving them their debuts in the same game, as happened with Heath, Al Bangura, Gary Borrowdale, Mikkel Andersen and Lloyd Owusu.

The Seagulls’ league position has also improved dramatically.

By contrast, Colchester have been a steady top-half-of-the-table outfit ever since they came down from the Championship in 2008, yet their presence around the play-off race this term still seems to be a surprise to some.

Heath, who has also been on loan at Southend since leaving Withdean, said: “We might have surprised a few people but we haven’t surprised ourselves.

“We are a good, honest side. We work hard and don’t lose many games.

“I know Brighton had a good start. Everyone has a dip every now and then but their results are nothing to worry about.

“As for us, we are doing well and I can’t see us dropping down. If we do, it will be our own fault.”

brian.owen @theargus.co.uk