Albion fans have been told the best of Dale Stephens is yet to come – by the man who urged the club to sign him.

Ex-Seagulls assistant boss Nathan Jones believes Stephens is making an impact in the Premier League And he reckons the 27-year-old’s impressive introduction to the elite is a case of better late than never.

In The Argus today, Jones recalls how and why Albion added him to their play-off pushing squad midway through the 2013-14 season.

He reveals how he persuaded head coach Oscar Garcia to sign Stephens from Charlton rather than another top Championship midfielder.

Jones, now boss at Luton Town in League Two, previously worked with Stephens at the Valley.

He told The Argus: “Dale has been a Premier League player for years.

“It has taken time for him to get there.

“But it is no surprise to me that he is in the Premier League and not just in there but having an impact on the league.

“He can do everything you want of a midfielder.

"He can tackle, he has a nasty streak which you need but which perhaps people don’t see, he can head it, he can get box to box and he was always a Premier League player.

“There’s so much more to come from him.”