Dean Hammond believes Albion can land him a Championship promotion double.

He went up with Southampton last season and has backed the Seagulls to stage a repeat – even though he expects it to be tougher.

Albion have won both their matches, against Watford and Sheffield Wednesday, since Hammond returned to the club for a second spell on loan for the season.

They go to Millwall today with a chance to go top and on course early on to emulate the midfielder’s success with Saints last season.

Hammond said: “I can’t see why not. The spirit between the boys is fantastic, we’ve got some very, very good players here.

“It’s just that momentum and consistency, winning games and picking points up like we did the other night (Watford), maybe when we are not at our best.

“We were fantastic against Sheffield Wednesday. We played some real free-flowing stuff and scored some good goals.

“The home form is very important and we are winning games away from home, so there is every chance.”

Southampton were promoted as runners-up to Reading but Hammond reckons it was easier for them than it will be for Albion.

“I think it’s going to be a more difficult league this year,” he said. “The teams that have come down are probably, except for West Ham maybe, a lot stronger - Bolton, Wolves, Blackburn.

“You look at the top six now. It is so strong and so are the teams below that.

“Blackburn have spent heavily, cardiff have as well. Blackpool are on a good roll and they have been a team together for a long time now.

“There are so many you can name - Leeds, Bolton, Wolves, Leicester - that will be saying they want to get promoted and can get promoted.

“We are confident within ourselves. We just need to concentrate on ourselves, play the way we want to play and just take one game at a time, even if that is a boring thing to say.”