Jake Forster-Caskey is ready to play through the summer to fulfil a double target of World Cup success and first-team football at The Amex.

Albion’s highly-rated midfield prospect is expected to be called up by England under-17s for their World Cup in Mexico next month after helping them reach the European Championship semi-finals last week.

The Seagulls will be back in pre-season training by the time he returns but Forster-Caskey, pictured, who is currently enjoying a few days back at home, is ready to forego his summer break.

He said: “I just have to train at the moment. I’ve been going to the gym. I need to stay fit and sharp.

“It’s going to be a busy summer and I’m obviously looking forward to the World Cup.

“But I’m also really excited about Brighton next season. I’m looking forward to getting back and going to The Amex.

“International football is totally different. It gives me a great education in some ways.

“At the same time it means I'll be playing all summer, but hopefully I’ll be as sharp as ever.”

Albion boss Gus Poyet rates Forster-Caskey highly enough to have made him Albion’s youngest-ever player when he made his debut soon after his 16th birthday.

He also threw him on at half-time in the FA Cup tie at Stoke and secured him on a two-year professional deal when he turned 17 recently.

Poyet said: “We never ask a player not to go and play for his national team .

“But when you are good enough to do that, then you have to do a little bit more.

“Playing through the summer is what it means to be an international player.

“There’s no problem. He should make sure he rests now but he is young, it’s okay.”

Forster-Caskey was left on the bench for England’s first two group games in Serbia but impressed in the 3-0 win over the hosts which secured both a semi-final spot and a World Cup ticket.

Holland beat England 1-0 in the semis before thrashing Germany 5-2 in the final.

Forster-Caskey said: “It was a great experience. The third match was really must-win and I thought I did well. I got my chance in the semis but me and the team did not play particularly well “Our manager John Peacock said we had to start the Serbia game like a house on fire, otherwise the home crowd would get on top of us and it would get harder and harder.

“We were brilliant in the first 15 or 20 minutes.”

He added: “Every player in the 18-man squad probably think they should be starting.

“The first two games and the semi were disappointing but it's all good experience. We understand we didn't perform like we should do.

“But we didn't perform and we still got to the semi-final “It shows what we could do if we played as we know we can. We could have won it.”