The capture of Norwegian prospect Henrik Bjordal signifies an important phase of recruitment for Albion, with implications not just for the long-term future but the short-term as well.

At Derby County in December, the Seagulls lost England under-21s winger Solly March to serious knee damage for the rest of the season.

They swiftly recruited a temporary deputy, Dutchman Rajiv van La Parra from Wolves. He did pretty well, providing goals and assists before returning to Molineux.

Albion had also already borrowed James Wilson from Manchester United in November for the rest of the season to boost their strike force.

They will not have the same options next season. The emergency loan windows, open shortly after the summer and winter permanent transfer windows, are being abolished by FIFA.

The change has ramifications for head of recruitment Paul Winstanley and his team of scouts.

It increases the need for young signings, made initially with the development squad in mind, to be capable of convincing Chris Hughton they could do a job in the first team sooner rather than later.

Even the smartest recruitment - Albion's has been pretty smart since Winstanley replaced David Burke - cannot cater for uncontrollables like the long-term injury crisis engulfing Albion in the current campaign.

Having a squad in place, with sufficient strength in depth, by the end of August, with the only option for further strengthening confined to January, moves the goalposts.

For large chunks of the season - the existing loan windows from September to the end of November and February to the end of March - managers up and down the country in the Football League will need to have their squads fully in place.

There will no longer be scope to borrow in the event of injuries or to resurrect deals which could not be completed in the permanent window.

Or to loan players out for up to 93 days, either to enhance their development if they are youngsters or ease the frustrations of a senior pro on the fringes.

Players with considerable potential such as Bjordal need to be brought in with next season in mind, as well as future seasons.

The versatile 18-year-old attacker, purchased from Aalesunds for around £300,000 and awarded a contract until June 2018, has been tracked by Albion for some time.

His capture represents something of a coup for the Seagulls. Bjordal is widely regarded in his own country to be a player with a Premier League future.

Tottenham invited him for a trial last year, which he was unable to attend. He has already represented Norway's under-21s, even though he is still eligible for the under-19s.

Aalesund, his top flight club on the west coast of Norway, offered Bjordal a new five-year deal but the teenage powerhouse, accompanied by his father, completed his move to the Seagulls yesterday.

Bjordal is well-equipped for the rigours of the English game. He is 6ft 2ins tall, two-footed and versatile.

Aalesund, where he has been since the age of 16, used him as a winger in their 4-5-1 system but he can also operate centrally as a number ten or out-and-out striker.

He joins a development squad which Hughton will have no choice other than to turn to in the event of emergencies from next season, unless Albion are in the Premier League where the goalposts would shift again.

Premier League clubs have only ever been able to loan players out during the emergency windows, not in.

Hughton would be restricted to a 25-man squad in the top flight, named at the end of the respective permanent transfer windows. The financial rewards for promotion would encourage more widespread recruitment of senior players equipped immediately for the step up, altering the emphasis again for Winstanley and his colleagues