Jake Forster-Caskey has been backed to shrug aside his England disappointment as he returns to work with Albion today.

Boss Chris Hughton is confident there will be no hangover for the midfielder after the England under-21s’ exit from the Euro finals at the group stage in the Czech Republic last month.

Forster-Caskey was an unused substitute for the opening two games for Gareth Southgate’s international prospects against Portugal and Sweden.

He started the last match against Italy but was substituted early in the second half of the defeat which sealed England’s fate.

Hughton told The Argus: “I think it’s unfortunate he didn’t play in the two games before and, of course, the last game was the most difficult game. I think he’ll be looking forward to getting back into the swing of things.

“I certainly don’t think that the under-21s experience will have knocked his confidence.

“The fact he was picked to play in that last game says something for how they see him. That in itself was a vote of confidence.

“It was just a tough game, not only for him but for the team.”

Hughton gave Forster-Caskey extra time off to take account of his international exertions. He links up with the rest of the squad today after missing last week’s training camp in the French Alps and Saturday’s 6-1 friendly win against Swiss side FC Meyrin in Geneva in which new striker Tomer Hemed scored three minutes into his debut.

Forster-Caskey will sit out Wednesday’s visit to Southampton behind closed doors (6pm) but may be involved at Lewes on Saturday.

Hughton said: “Jake is a fit lad. I anticipate him not being dramatically behind everyone else but we’ll need to incorporate him back into the group the right way.

“We have a game midweek, which he won’t be involved in, and then we need to make a decision about Lewes.”