Ex-Albion goalie Tony Meola is going to play in the World Cup finals for a third time in Japan and Korea this summer.

But the American, who will provide cover for Brad Friedel (Blackburn) and Kasey Keller (Tottenham), is already thinking beyond then about a return to Brighton.

After hearing about the revival of the Seagulls, he congratulated his former club, then dropped the hint.

He said: "If someone can get me a work permit I could come over for a couple of years."

How far his tongue was in his cheek is difficult to assess.

But I sensed the custodian for the Kansas Wizards was deadly serious when he added that he wouldn't mind returning to the county's happening new city, even if it is just as a tourist.

He said: "My wife Colleen and I have family in South East England so we could take in Brighton in between seeing them."

Meola is remembered as flamboyant and an extrovert during his time with Seagulls.

Well, it might seem that way. Afterall he has acted in the film The Desperate Trail, appeared in an off-Broadway production of Tony and Tina's Wedding and is currently drumming with his rock band Mush Mouth. And, of course, with his 'come and get me' suggestions to Albion, he might just have a sense of humour.

But he rejects the interpretations of his personality.

"Flamboyant? Extrovert? Well, if people remember me like that, it is up to them. I don't think I am. I'd say my main characteristics are that I am down-to-earth and honest."

Meola was snapped up on loan by Barry Lloyd following the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

He said: "As I'd played in the World Cup, I was able to adjust to the standard of football, which was in the Second, now First, Division.

"The first game was against Wolves. Steve Bull was their big gun. I had come in for Perry Digweed who was injured. I was fortunate enough to receive the man-of-the match award. We won 1-0 and I was in the team that drew 0-0 with Northampton in the next game. I enjoyed being with Brighton.

"I lived on a rocky beach. Or rather a hotel looking over a rocky beach. I come from New Jersey and had seen beaches, but never a rocky one. I was 21, away from home and very much enjoyed being in the city."

He is now in his fourth season with the 2000 USA Major League soccer champions Wizards after joining them from home town New York/New Jersey Metrostars.

He has two children, Jonathan, four, and Kylie, nearly two, and another is on the way.

Meola captained his country when the World Cup finals were staged in the United States in 1994, a year after playing in an historic 2-0 victory against England.

But his fondness and gratitude to Albion remains, even though he only played two league games and was at the clubfor three months before leaving for Watford. He then returned to the United States and Fort Lauderdale Strikers in Florida.

Meola feels it was one "positive" stopping off point on his learning curve to this summer's World Cup finals.

"I'd like to thank the people at Brighton for a great experience. There are two ways you can look at any experience in life. I choose to take the positives out of it. Playing for Brighton gave me the opportunity to play in the land that invented the game and to develop my craft."

He hopes his short education in London-by-Sea will play at least a small part in what he can achieve in Japan and South Korea.

"Whatever happens I am just thankful to be involved.

"To play in the World Cup finals is the ultimate experience, facing the world's great players in big stadiums with the world watching. You're doing something every soccer player wants to do.

"My parents are first generation Italian, so to go back to the home country in my first World Cup was a fantastic time and included a close match against Italy in Rome.

"The next finals were phenomenal. No one expected us to do anything and yet we beat Columbia and reached the quarter-finals.

"I wasn't selected for 1998 but, although I did some off-season American football kicking with the New York Jets, I never gave up my football and through perseverance, luck and good form I'm back in. I'm excited."

The United States meet Portugal, Poland and South Korea in Group D.

Meola said: "We've got a pretty good chance to go through the group because we have quite a talented group of players. The Brits know Claudio Reyna, who plays for Sunderland, as well as Kasey and Brad. Two strikers worth watching are Landon Donovan (who plays for George Best's old club San Jose Earthquakes in California) and Clint Mathis, who plays for Metros."

Meola rates Sven Goran Eriksson's England.

"They've got a great coach and David Beckham will probably be back. They've got some great players. They must be one of the favourites. But I'm tipping Argentina to win the whole thing. They're an exciting side."

Lloyd said: "He was a tremendous athlete when he was at Brighton. He worked like a Trojan in training.

"He did okay but didn't give me long enough to assess him before he was off to Watford. That was disappointing."