Christian Walton is being lined up for a season away from the Amex.

Boss Chris Hughton believes the time is right for the young goalkeeper to go out on a long-term loan.

Walton appears to be third in the pecking order after Niki Maenpaa agreed a new one-year deal.

The England under-21 cap had two frustrating loan stints last term, at Bury and Plymouth, each of which saw him play four times.

Now Hughton wants to see the 20-year-old enjoy a season of first-team football.

The Albion boss said: “Our plan very much is for Christian to go out on loan and get some regular games. He is at an age now where there is no doubt he is competing but we still feel he will benefit from going out on a season-long loan.”

Walton suffered an injury while with Bury and his brisk rise seemed to halt somewhat last season.

But Hughton believes his loan stints had value in his development.

He said: “Christian had a couple of loan periods which, irrespective of how they went, is still valuable experience for him.

“I think he will be better for that but this is a good opportunity for him to go out on loan and it is certainly the right decision.”

Under new Football League rules, clubs can recall a goalkeeper from loan at 24 hours’ notice if they are unable to field two fit keepers themselves.

Players can also play non-first team football for their parent clubs during their loans. That would allow Walton to have a game for the Seagulls’ under-21s should he be short of playing time at a loan club.