GLENN MURRAY has backed Albion to show more maturity in the Premier League next season.

He believes they will be less naive and ready for the “tricks” of the top flight.

The Seagulls finished 15th in their first season up with a squad short of Premier League experience.

Murray, who also played in the top flight for Crystal Palace and Bournemouth, top scored with 14 goals in all competitions.

The veteran striker acknowledges Chris Hughton’s side will need to improve again to steer clear of trouble.

“That’s the nature of the beast,” Murray said. “You are always trying to improve and move forward.

“But I feel as though the players here have already learnt a lot this year and the group that has finished this season to the group that began it are a lot less naive and more aware of the tricks that go on in the Premier League.”

Murray faces fresh competition as Albion’s attacking spearhead following the signing of long-time Romanian target Florin Andone from Deportivo La Coruna.

Record buy Jurgen Locadia is also expected to feature more prominently in his first full season at the club.

Murray, 35 in September, will be ready for the challenge. He said: “I remember back in the day when pros would go off for six to eight weeks and barely move a muscle, come back in and gruel it out for six weeks.

“That isn’t the way at all now of the modern day professional. It’s all about keeping yourself in the best possible shape and almost coming into pre-season fit.

“It’s quite common for a lot of boys to go away on sort of pre pre-season tours or on a personal level.

“The game has changed and you’ve got to change with it to stay in it.

“I use the beginning as a rest and then I load my body weights wise towards the end of the summer so that I am nice and strong going into the season.”