ALBION boss Gus Poyet believes an early start will help him get the best out of Kazenga LuaLua.

The flying Newcastle winger’s previous two loan stints with the Seagulls began mid-season.

LuaLua has linked up with Albion well before the campaign kicks-off this time and is in the squad which flew out to Portugal last night.

Poyet told The Argus: “It is the first time I’ve had Kazenga before the season starts. That’s great, because we are going to do things in Portugal that will set up our season in terms of organisation, offensively and defensively, and the way we are going to play.

“He will be here listening to me and practising that. Before when he came we were already under way and there was not a lot of time.

“It will also be important for the players up front and in the middle to understand his game.

“There is no better way that training with a person more than ten times in a week to know him perfectly.”

LuaLua’s first loan spell with Albion was cut short by hamstring trouble, the second last season by a broken ankle after four goals in 11 games, but Poyet is confident the injury problems are behind him.

“He has been training and doing pre-season (with Newcastle),” said Poyet. “Of course, we are going to keep an eye on him.

“Because of his sprinting power you need to keep his hamstrings nice and relaxed and, of course, we’ll keep checking the latest injury is getting stronger and stronger to see he is 100 per cent fit.”

If all goes according to plan LuaLua will sign permanently for Albion once his loan ends on January 15, bringing to an end a Newcastle career in which he was restricted to three starts and 12 substitute appearances.

The 24-man squad which arrived in The Algarve last night contains no trialists but includes young quartet Steve Cook, Grant Hall, Torbjorn Agdestein and Yaser Kasim from the development squad.

Former Spurs midfielder Kasim was named man of the match in Saturday’s first ever fixture at The Amex, the Sussex Senior Cup final victory against Eastbourne Borough.

Poyet said: “We have been trying to make Yasim a first team player. There are still a few games for him to prove whether he is or not.

“It’s up to him. He wasn’t man of the match for me on Saturday. That was Cooky without any doubt.”