Chris Hughton believes the international break has come at a good time for Albion.

The Seagulls do not return to Premier League action until September 17 at Southampton after the comeback draw against Fulham, which has left them on four points from four games.

Hughton told The Argus: “The international breaks give us a really good opportunity in a less pressurised situation to work, look at the four games, where can we improve, get Andone and Izquierdo fit, get the levels up of the ones that haven’t been playing.

“We, of course, have longer than the others because we don’t play until the Monday. We’ll try to work it the best way we can.

“The difficulty also after the international break is to try to hit the ground running.”

Albion have already played Manchester United and Liverpool. Their tough start continues with matches against Spurs and Manchester City after the trip to Southampton.

Hughton said: “It doesn’t get any easier, but I suppose once that sequence of games has gone it means we would have played four of the top six already.

“If we apply ourselves like we did in the two games before this one against them, it gives us whatever chance there is.”

Lewis Dunk made a rare mistake for Alexandar Mitrovic’s goal which gave Fulham a 2-0 lead on his return sooner than expected from an ankle injury.

Hughton said: “Dunky is a particular type of individual. He rarely misses training, he heals very quickly. Although he hadn’t trained with us, he’d done some good running. We were confident with his levels.

“He made one (mistake) and he’d be the first to hold his hand up. But that’s part and parcel of his education at this level. I thought both him and Shane (Duffy) were up against a very good player in Mitrovic, good movement, very strong, and a good experience for both our centre-halves.”