Izzy Brown will carry on eating cucumber as he prepares for life under the coolest manager in the Premier League.

Albion's latest signing has a bizarre pre-match ritual, dating back to an under-23s game at Chelsea.

Team-mate Lewis Baker told Brown he would scored three goals if he ate three bits of cucumber as they queued for their food at the salad bar.

He hit a hat-trick and has stuck to the routine ever since, except when he made his debut hours after putting pen to paper in Albion's friendly win at Southend on Tuesday.

"The last game I didn't eat them," Brown said. "Everything was such a rush, from going to the medical, to signing.

"When the League games come along I'll still be eating them, definitely, three little circles of cucumber. It's crazy but ever since then it's always been on the back of my mind, so I just do it.

"I haven't scored a hat-trick since but two or one. Even if I score or have a good game it's always in my head. If I have a bad game it's the cucumber's fault!"

Brown has placed his faith in Chris Hughton (below) to develop the next phase of his career after completing a season-long switch from Stamford Bridge to the Seagulls.

The Argus: The 20-year-old helped David Wagner's Huddersfield win promotion to the Premier League with Albion via the play-offs.

Wagner wanted to buy him, others wanted him to, but Brown has chosen the Seagulls and a sharp contrast in mangerial demeanours.

He said: "Being a young player, you want to play at the highest level possible and I can do that at Brighton in the Premier League, the best league in the world.

"I had a few meetings with Chris and I think that is one of the main reasons why I've come.

"There are still a lot of parts of the game I need to learn and I think Chris can teach me - off the ball work and things like that.

"I can tell from the game the other day. He was shouting to me about things like positioning.

"I can work on the defensive side of my game. On the ball everything is fine, but defensively I still need a little bit of work.

"I think Chris can get the best out of me in that aspect and when we have the ball he gives players freedom to play football, so I'm excited to work under him.

"He said he's been watching me since I was 17, throughout the Chelsea youth ranks. He knows a lot about me and I'm sure we will have a good relationship.

"I'll go to him when I need to improve on something and he'll tell me as well.

"David Wagner (below) is completely different to Chris, but the training is still as tough here as it was at Huddersfield. I could tell by my first session, how quick and sharp it was.

The Argus: "David is very energetic, always running up and down the touchline, things like that. But he's a great manager, so is Chris. They both deserve to be in the Premier League.

"I didn't think Huddersfield on a permanent was the best idea for me. I'm still young and I still believe I can play for Chelsea. The Brighton option was the best for me and hopefully it works out well."

Brown's fourth loan move in three seasons, following spells with Vitesse in Holland and Huddersfield's struggling Yorkshire neighbours Rotherham last August to January, coincided with signing a new four-year deal at Chelsea.

Antonio Conte (below) has spoken of some young players being too impatient for an opportunity at Stamford Bridge. Brown is prepared to bide his time.

The Argus: "You know with Chelsea, one of the best teams in England, how tough it is for any young player," he said. "We need to win the league every year, so there is a lot of expectancy and a lot of criticism if young players have one bad game.

"It's difficult to stay in the team. They don't have time to give players a chance, so when you get a chance you just have to take it.

"It sounds bad but, with so many world class players around you, you're going to need an injury or something to a player in your position and then your chance will come. And if you don't take it you can't blame anyone."

The chances of the versatile Brown making a first team breakthrough at Chelsea will improve if he shines for Albion in the No.10 role or wide on the left, where he started against Southend.

He said: "If you had asked me last season I'd have said on the left. But after last season and all the good games I played in, I would say I'm more of an off-the-striker No.10 or attacking midfielder.

"At Huddersfield that's where I played and I think that's where I can get the best out of my game, get on the half-turn and run at defenders. That's what I like to do.

"A lot of people think I'll be a No.9 when I'm older. We'll see."

If Brown is a success again this season, the other Albion will be the ones counting the cost. He was developed by West Brom, where he became the second-youngest player in Premier League history, aged 16 years and 117 days, as a late sub against Wigan.

Steve Hopcroft, the youth chief when Brown was coming through the ranks at the Hawthorns, said: "He was the one that got away for me. The manager at the time, Steve Clarke, was ready to make him an integral part of the team.

"We had a potential £20-30-40 million player who the fans would have loved, full of flair and skill. He could take on six players from his own half and score.

"I was bitterly disappointed, as was everyone in the academy. He's still potentially a world-class player, the best we've lost, without a shadow of doubt."