Uwe Huenemeier has bad memories of Middlesbrough.

Pain which pre-dates the anguish of drawing but losing out to them in Albion's ill-fated promotion decider on their last visit to the Riverside Stadium.

For Huenemeier it was the first meeting with Boro two seasons ago, at the Amex five months before the crushing disappointment on the final day, that has left an indelible mark on his Albion career.

The German central defender, signed from Paderborn after captaining them in the Bundesliga, was playing regularly.

The 3-0 home defeat by Boro not only cost Albion their unbeaten start to the campaign, it also cost Huenemeier (below) his place in the team with a groin injury which had far more serious consequences than the initial diagnosis.

The Argus: "They were saying first of all I'd probably miss out for six weeks," Huenemeier told The Argus. "We tried it without surgery. I was quite close to training and then I had a setback, so I had surgery.

"I did my rehab, came close to training again, it still wasn't good enough, had more surgery. These are things yo probably never heard of before. It was quite a frustrating time for me.

"It was good that the club tries to keep it quiet. It was probably better for me but it wasn't an easy time, probably the most difficult for me as a footballer. I had never been injured for so long.

"You are just training in the gym. I was lucky enough to have Solly (March) by my side. We were both injured for the same eight or nine months.

"I wasn't on my own but it's not easy. It was really important to get back to my best."

Huenemeier had to wait 14 months for his return to league action, in a 3-3 draw at Brentford.

Further appearances followed in the promotion run-in last season, deputising for the injured Shane Duffy.

"Probably everybody was questioning me," Huenemeier acknowledged. "Is he ready for that, he hasn't played for a while? That was the most pleasing thing for me, to perform at that time with that pressure, to help the team get promoted.

"That gave me a big boost. I have proved I am capable of performing at that level.

"Of course, now you want to play more and more. Now we are in the Premier League, probably the highest level you can achieve as a footballer. I never dreamt of getting to that level, so you have to find the balance between ambitious and realistic.

"I was never playing at the highest level, just one year in the Bundesliga because I got promoted with Paderbron. It was the same with Brighton but in England there is more money around so they are looking to get more players in, to strengthen the team.

"Probably that's a bit unfortunate for me but that's the time right now in England.

"I'm still happy to be here. I'm not far off the team. We haven't had any injuries, which is good. Of course, every footballer wants to play. Luckily I can play on Saturday."

The fourth round FA Cup tie against Boro comes at a delicate time for Huenemeier. Duffy and Lewis Dunk have established themselves as Chris Hughton's first-choice partnership at his expense and that of Connor Goldson, who is keen for a loan move to achieve more game time.

Huenemeier, who spent seven years with Borussia Dortmund at the beginning of his career, is the wrong side of 30, out of contract in the summer and has played just 17 minutes in the Premier League, again as a replacement for the injured Duffy (below) at home to Everton in October.

The Argus: In his favour is his consumate professionalism, recognised inside the club. He trains the way he plays, with full throttle determination. "I'm German" he joked after turning up for his press duties on Thursday bang on time.

"I'm not the youngest, already 32," Huenemeier said. "I don't want to say you get used to it because you want to play, but after my injury I was quite happy to get back to that level, because I proved at the end of last season that I can still perform at a high level.

"That was the main target for me, to get back to my best. I've proved that and now it's up to me to put even more pressure on the guys ahead of me.

"Dunky has improved massively. When I arrived here he was quite inconsistent. In the last one-and-a-half years he has been superior, I can just say that. He is so consistent in his form. There is probably no reason for the gaffer to drop him.

"The club got promoted and at the same time I slipped down a bit in the pecking order. That's not easy but first of all I'm a team player. Of course I want to play, but the success of the team is my main priority.

"The question for me is probably how long do you want to do that, just sit out and wait for your chance?

"But right now I am looking forward to Saturday. That's a chance for me to get a game and hopefully we can win it."