Albion chief executive Paul Barber last night praised the “brilliant” team effort which nudged Beram Kayal’s move to the Amex closer to completion.

But the Israeli international could face a race against time to make his debut at Blackpool on Saturday.

The Seagulls have taken the first available Home Office appointment today - in Sheffield - to secure a visa for Kayal after the FA endorsed his move from Celtic at a hearing yesterday morning.

They would then need to complete the transfer with Celtic, register it with the Football League and receive international clearance from the FA before boss Chris Hughton decides whether to play Kayal, who has not been able to train while the paperwork is completed.

Hughton and Barber convinced an expert panel at Wembley that they should allow the non-EU player to come into the League.

But Barber said: “It wasn’t just Chris and me. It was brilliant how 20 members of staff, from scouts to analysts to the people who prepared the presentations to the player liaison staff who looked after Beram and his family, came together.

“We were well prepared. These hearings are not just rubber-stamping exercises. You have to get everything spot-on.

“I’m very proud of the club. It was a great example of how areas of expertise can pull together to secure one player.”

Barber believes Albion’s commitment to producing young English players was a key factor in persuading the panel to grant Kayal the crucial Governing Body Endorsement he required to help make the move south reality.

But he stressed the deal was not yet over the line.

Even if clearance arrives in time, Hughton might opt not to risk Kayal on a Blackpool pitch euphemistically described last night as “not great” by their ex-Albion midfielder Andrea Orlandi.