Albion's version of Jamie Vardy is on his own journey from non-League to England stardom.

And if Solly March emulates Vardy by making it to the top with club and country he believes he will value it more than others taking a conventional route starting out as professionals.

March made his full debut for England under-21s on home soil at the Amex in Monday's 3-1 European Championship qualifying victory for Gareth Southgate's Young Lions against Switzerland at the Amex.

His 58-minute baptism came just four years after he was turning out for Lewes in the seventh tier of English football.

It may not be far from the Dripping Pan to the Amex in mileage terms but March has covered the gigantic leap in standard with rocket-type velocity, echoing the rise of Vardy.

The Leicester livewire, in the space of eight years, has gone from non-League with Stocksbridge Park Steels, Halifax and Fleetwood (when they were in the Conference) to the Premier League and the England senior ranks.

March, reflecting on his time with Lewes, said: "I only played once or twice. I was on the bench for quite a few games. The manager, Steve King, was saying to me he wanted to try and get me to a professional club.

"They were in the Ryman Premier. I have done a lot in a short amount of time. I am catching up with people in a way, because they have been in the professional game for a lot longer, and I think I've done well in that period of time.

"But I think I've also got more years to learn things and get better, probably more so than others as I am late to the game.

"I think it's good. It probably gives you more motivation, more drive and passion to get there, because you started lower and you have experienced what it's like to be in the lower leagues and then, getting to the top level, you realise where you've come."

March's move to Albion evolved from the relationship between King, now masterminding Whitehawk's FA Cup run, and Robert Codner, the free-spirited former Albion midfielder who was a central cog in the side Barry Lloyd steered to the play-off final for a place in the top flight in 1990-91.

Codner and Tony Finnigan, the ex-Crystal Palace player, were on the premises and became March's representatives.

"He (King) worked with Robert Codner back then and it just went from there really," March said. "It was just me playing football then. I'd never even talked to an agent.

"I didn't sign when I first came to Brighton. We were speaking and they were watching my games. I just wanted to get on with my football at first, then when I felt like it, I signed with them for two years at first and I'm still with them now.

"He (Codner) goes on to me a bit sometimes about him being a great player! I think he was sort of a bit hot and cold, some people say. He would probably say the same as well but I think he loves the club so it's good.

"He comes and watches a fair bit, gives me some advice. I take some of it on board, some of it I don't. Rob's good, I like him. We get on."

March's biggest critic is dad Steve, an ex-Albion apprentice. The versatile winger joked: "He says he was a good player but I don't know about that. When he says I've played well then I've definitely played well.

"He watches all my games, away and home. He gives me advice and I take it."

March's star is rising fast for club as well as country. The 21-year-old broke into the first team two seasons ago under Oscar Garcia when Albion reached the play-offs.

His progress was halted last season by injuries but he has hit a rich vein of form recently down both flanks for Chris Hughton's unbeaten side. His first start for England under-21s followed his first goal at the Amex in the Seagulls' last outing against MK Dons.

"My aim at the beginning of the season was to try to get more game time, score goals and get assists," March said. "Especially in the last four or five games I've played I've been doing that, so I just want to keep my levels up and keep playing well.

"I'm probably a late developer, so I've still got plenty to offer and plenty of things to improve.

"I still think I've got four or five years to get to my best, learn the game, get a bit more consistency."

Vardy is 28, so March has time on his side. He had a glimpse of what the future could hold featuring for England's next generation in a line-up captained by Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse and also containing Arsenal defender Calum Chambers among an array of prospects with Premier League clubs.

"They are great technical players with great ability so you can learn from playing with them," March said. "It quickens up the game a little bit and makes you a better player."

The next step on March's Vardy-like journey with Albion is Burnley away on Sunday. "I think it will be a very hard game, probably the toughest game so far," he said. "We'll go into it with confidence trying to get the win hopefully, that's how we go into games.

"They have come down from the Prem last year and they've still got a lot of their players but we are going believing.

"I just want to keep getting out there and playing. When you are playing well you want the games to come around quickly.

"You have confidence you can get goals and win games. That's how it is with Brighton at the moment. We have confidence that we are not going to be beaten."