Junior Lewis is aiming to banish months of misery as a Premiership outcast with promotion from Division Two for the second time in three seasons.

But Albion's new signing wants a winner's medal this time, instead of the unbearable anxiety of the play-offs.

Boss Peter Taylor took Lewis with him to Leicester from Gillingham after the Kent club won promotion to the First Division in 1999-2000.

The versatile 28-year-old's dream £50,000 move to Filbert Street turned sour once Taylor was axed.

Lewis has not started a match for relegation-bound Leicester since Dave Bassett and Micky Adams took charge, so he is relieved to be reunited with his former manager on a three-month loan.

Lewis, in an exclusive interview with The Argus, declared: "I need to be playing, so it's a good move for me, especially with Brighton in second and looking for promotion.

"At Leicester everyone has been getting a bit of stick because we are down at the bottom. It was a case of whose turn is it this week, but you just have to rise above that and do the best you can.

"I am looking to play games and push Brighton up into the First Division where they belong. It's a big club and the support was brilliant when I watched them at Brentford.

"That was a bad night for them, but since then they have turned it around.

"Hopefully I can use my experience of getting to the First Division with Gillingham. We did it the hard way through the play-offs and I don't want that. We want to finish not even second but on top of the League."

Wembley-born Lewis is joining forces with Taylor for the fourth time, having also played under him at Dover.

"We have a very good football relationship," Lewis said. "It's nice to team up with him again and I want to do well for him and Brighton. I don't know if I would have signed for any other Second Division club. Peter Taylor being the manager did help."

Lewis, who can play in various positions, had his first training session with the Seagulls on Friday.

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