Gary Hart will be better than ever to boost Albion's First Division challenge next season, according to his biggest fan.

Dad Jim has vowed his son will come back even stronger from the broken leg he suffered at Peterborough last Saturday.

Jim, Gary's wheelchair-bound mum Maureen and his older brother Danny were in the crowd at London Road.

Hart was stretchered off after only eight minutes, but they did not discover until just before the final whistle that he had broken his left fibia in a seemingly innocuous attempt to challenge Peterborough defender Marc Jospeh.

"I thought at first it was a neck injury," Jim revealed. "Then when he went down I didn't think it looked too good.

"I saw his hand go up straight away, but I was not expecting it to be a broken leg because there was no challenge at all. He just fell awkwardly.

"His partner Rachel was on the phone to us and we found out just before the end of the game, so that was a bit of a shock."

Jim was his son's manager when he played for Harlow United under-10's in Essex. "Gary broke his foot quite a few years ago while playing for Stansted, but apart from that he has not really had anything like it before," he revealed.

"He's a very determined lad, Brighton through and through, and he'll be back. Obviously he is a bit down and frustrated, but the lads have been good to him and he'll get over it and come back even stronger."

Hart, accompanied by club captain Paul Rogers, was taken to a nearby hospital but travelled back on the team coach before spending Saturday night in the Nuffield at Woodingdean.

On Sunday he was at home in Peacehaven with team-mate, near-neighbour and close friend Kerry Mayo, who by a strange coincidence shares the same September birthdate.

They listened together to radio commentary of Reading's 2-2 draw at Tranmere which sealed successive promotions for the Seagulls.

"It cheered me up a little bit," said Hart. "I would never have believed it four years ago when I first came here. I am absolutely over the moon, apart from the injury.

"I felt my leg fold and I knew I had done something. I heard the crack, so I knew it was all over from then. The Peterborough physio was on first and he told me to keep still.

"I'm in plaster up to my knee. I will be like that for six weeks and I don't know whether I might need an operation."

Albion's popular striker turned right-winger joined the rest of the squad on Monday morning as they celebrated promotion prior to training.

He is expected to be back in time for pre-season training and with a year left on his three-and-a-half year contract will be an important member of Albion's First Division squad.

Hart is already planning to hire an automatic so that he can still drive and the 26-year-old has an extra incentive to hasten his recovery.

Gary and Rachel have a daughter Chloe, who is nearly two, and they are getting married in June.

"I am facing a battle to be fit for that," he said. "I want to be out of plaster to walk up the aisle."

The injury has robbed him of the chance to play in Saturday's potential championship clincher against Swindon, plus a poignant appearance in Albion's last game of the season at Port Vale on April 20.

Vale boss and former Albion legend Brian Horton was the man who signed Hart for the Seagulls from Stansted for £1,000 plus the price of a team strip.

"I would have enjoyed playing in the last two games, but I have been part of the team that has done it," Hart added. "It's up to the lads to win the championship now. That would be the icing on the cake."

Jim and Maureen, a multiple sclerosis sufferer, are regulars at Withdean in the disabled section adjacent to the Press box in the north stand.

"We'll be there on Saturday for the three points for the championship and Gary will definitely be there," Jim pledged. "He won't miss out on that."

More Seagulls stuff at thisisthealbion.co.uk