Adam El-Abd has revealed he swapped Peacehaven for Pride Park in his comeback from a fractured foot.

Now the Brighton-born defender has set his sights on a first run out at The Amex, ideally against the club he used to watch from the stands.

El-Abd enjoyed his first action for more than seven months when he came off the bench to play most of the second half as the Seagulls won 1-0 at Derby County on Tuesday.

Having expected to feature for the reserves in last night’s Senior Cup tie at Peacehaven, he instead found himself as the only man offering defensive cover off the bench for the first team.

He admitted: “There was a little bit of rust because I had only had 45 minutes for the reserves at Crawley last week but I got through it and I felt really good.

“The body felt good, the foot felt good and I managed to get a tackle in early on.

“I think the plan was for me to play at Peacehaven and get 90 minutes under my belt.

“But it never quite goes how you plan, does it? It has worked out. I felt good so there is no problem.”

El-Abd is in the running for a place in the 16 on Saturday against Nottingham Forest, the club he used to watch at the City Ground when visiting relatives in the East Midlands.

Boss Gus Poyet has decisions to make at full-back.

He will be missing Inigo Calderon (suspended) and Marcos Painter (injured) but Mauricio Taricco has completed a two-game ban and Gonzalo Jara Reyes is recovering from a knee problem.

El-Abd added: “It would be unbelievable to step out at the Amex.

“I was getting excited even when we had a training session there the other day.

“I have been to every single game there.

“The atmosphere, especially in the opening few games, made the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.”