Bobby Zamora could be forgiven for feeling a little left out as the England under-21s prepare for Tuesday's European Championship qualifier with Slovakia.

He is the only member of the squad from a club outside the top two divisions.

Several close friends are making their mark in the Premiership and now Albion team-mate Paul Brooker is jumping ahead of him by rejoining Micky Adams at Leicester.

Zamora used to play alongside John Terry, Ledley King, Paul Konchesky and JLloyd Samuel as part of the Senrab boys team in East London.

"When we meet up we always say how unbelievable it is how well we've done as a group. And the Premiership boys say to me 'any danger of you coming up or what!"

Yesterday we revealed Adams had pulled out of the race to re-sign Zamora because he is "too expensive".

Spurs and Charlton are still in the hunt, but a stumbling block to any deal is the 30 per cent cut of the fee due to Zamora's former club Bristol Rovers.

That means for Albion to make it worthwhile to them they have to ask for a price probably over-inflated in the current market.

Zamora, speaking on the FA website, said: "I haven't spoken to the chairman recently so I don't know what his thoughts are.

"I've got two years left on my contract so Brighton is my club unless I am told otherwise.

"The talk doesn't faze me, people in Brighton don't go over-the-top. I am treated as one of the lads."

Being part of the England set-up is a release for Zamora from the lingering dejection of relegation from the First Division.

"The disappointment will still be there in pre-season but the great thing about football is there is always excitement about what next season may bring," he said.

"Being with England is a change and that's good. We've got lads like Gary O'Neill who have been promoted and others like Jermain (Defoe) who have gone down or the Sheffield United boys who have lost a play-off final.

"I learned a lot in Division One. The defenders are quicker upstairs. They don't have to run as far or fast because they are sharper and a bit cleverer. I'm sure it's made me a brighter player, a better player mentally.

"The disappointing thing was the injuries, I had never had any before. I had six weeks out with my knee and that was very frustrating.

"Brighton as a team had key players missing through the campaign. If we'd had our first eleven out all season, I honestly don't think we would have struggled."

The best Zamora can hope for on Tuesday is a place on the bench after David Platt's baffling decision to play him on the left side of midfield in the friendly against Serbia and Montenegro five days ago.

Defoe and Shola Ameobi are Platt's first choice strike force.

"There are six strikers in training and all of us are fighting for those two spots," said Zamora. "I'm a tall goal poacher. I've had so many partners at Brighton I can adapt."

Whether he can adapt mentally to the possibility of being with Albion next season in the Second Division remains to be seen.