Chris Hughton expects record buy Jose Izquierdo to have a positive impact on Albion – but he is not sure when.

The Seagulls have decided after all not to play their £13.5 million Colombian winger from Brugge against Barnet in the Carabao Cup at the Amex tonight.

Izquierdo, who made his last competitive appearance for the national team in mid-June, will focus instead on training this week ahead of Saturday’s Premier League trip to Watford.

Hughton said: “I don’t think it would be fair, coming into a team that has just got promoted and we know is going to have a testing season, to expect so much so quickly.

“You just don’t know. New signings can come in and very much hit the ground running, some are going to take a little bit of time to bed in.

“What we do know is he is an exciting player. His record over the last few seasons has been very good.

“The reason we have brought him in is for what he can bring to the team. He is also somebody that works very hard.

“We want positive results from him. I don’t think he would have invested as much in him as we have if we didn’t think that.”

Hughton has hinted that Anthony Knockaert, yet to start a game since the end of last season after ankle ligament damage, could feature tonight.

Solly March, who traded wings with Jamie Murphy and ended up in the No.10 role in the 2-0 defeat at Leicester, will be among those rested.

Hughton said: “With Anthony we have played him predominantly on that righthand side. Solly has probably got a little bit more flexibility.

“He is as comfortable on either side and gives us strengths on either side. The important thing is we have these options and with Jose coming in as well it gives us another option – and a lot of flexibility.”