ALBION boss Gus Poyet has told Premier League clubs they have missed out by not signing Craig Mackail-Smith.

He has hailed his record-busting capture as a “non-stop machine” good enough to play in the top flight.

The Seagulls stunned Championship big-hitters West Ham and Leicester by buying Peterborough hotshot Mackail-Smith from under their noses for a £2.5 million fee which could rise to £3.25 million with add-ons.

Mackail-Smith, 27, has signed a four-year contract in a deal which shatters the club record £1 million paid by Albion last month for Watford winger Will Buckley.

The sought-after striker also attracted interest from Premier League newcomers QPR and Norwich – who recently bought Elliott Bennett from the Seagulls – as well as Wolves, Birmingham and Reading.

Poyet told The Argus: “I am sure if he had been playing in the Championship last season he would have been a Premiership target.

“Because he was in League One maybe people think it is a big jump. For me it’s not if you have got the quality. Elliott Bennett’s going to do it, why not Craig?

“I think Elliott has plenty of the technical qualities needed for the Premiership and he is going to have more time on the ball than in League One without any doubt.

“I am not saying that makes it easier but with the workrate of Craig I don’t think he is the kind of player the top defenders in the Premier League would be happy to play against, so I hope he can help us."