Matt Upson believes Albion's January transfer business will keep them in the Premier League.

The former Seagulls, Arsenal and England central defender reckons adding ex-Leicester team-mate Leo Ulloa and Jurgen Locadia to the attacking options will ensure they survive.

Albion have gone four games unbeaten since the involvement of Ulloa and Locadia in the matchday squad.

Glenn Murray has scored four goals over that period in wins at home to West Ham and Swansea and draws at Southampton and Stoke.

Upson said: "I feel the business they've done in January has been really good bringing in Leonard Ulloa, who I know and is a good addition, and the new guy Locadia who's looked really sharp.

"Any competition high up the pitch for Glenn Murray, who has done really well, is a positive thing for Brighton, so I think they've done well in January.

"Just having the competition and having the presence of those other strikers around just raises the game of everyone else and I think whoever has got that shirt and is going to play in the Premier League knows that there are two other players that are of equal quality and are a threat to their position.

"It just brings the best out of people. For Brighton that's really The Argus: important."

Upson was a mainstay with Ulloa (above) of the Albion side that reached the Championship play-offs under Oscar Garcia four seasons ago, when he was voted player of the year.

He joined on loan initially from Stoke for the second half of the previous season as the Seagulls also reached the play-offs under Gus Poyet.

Having spent 18 months at the club during the Amex era, Upson is not surprised that Albion have adapted well in their debut campaign in the Premier League.

"No I'm not because they've been building for it for a long time," he said. "I think they had a very clear plan and clear structure about how they wanted to do it.

"At the time I was there they were still in the part of the infrastructure - the training ground was being finished, the stadium was done, and they weren't quite investing in the squad maybe enough to get them up.

"I always felt when I was there just a little bit more investment maybe in another striker or if they'd have taken a gamble it could've got us promoted.

"We came close in the play-offs twice, but it wasn't the time for them and they stuck to their plan and perhaps the club wasn't ready to take the step then, but I think it is now and I think they're showing that they are capable of coping."

Matt Upson was speaking to http://www.FootballTips.com.

See today's Argus for the full interview