Beram Kayal needs a break.

Not another bone, enough of them have been broken already in a career plagued by injuries and eight operations.

Not a rest either, he has only made nine Premier League starts in a season and a bit for Albion.

Nobody has had it harder since they were promoted than Chris Hughton's first signing.

The arrivals of Davy Propper last summer and Yves Bissouma this summer, along with a broken leg suffered in the final friendly before Albion launched their return to the top flight, have conspired to limit Kayal's opportunities.

When the Israeli international has played, the tests have been consistently severe since his debut away to Spurs at Wembley last December (below).

The Argus: Spurs at home, Chelsea, Everton and Liverpool away, Burnley away, Crystal Palace away.

Last Saturday, the former Celtic midfielder made his 150th start in British football against champions Manchester City at the Etihad.

"It is what what I have felt sometimes with my chat with the gaffer," said Kayal, who signed a one-year contract extension last week to June 2020.

"I have felt I probably need a run of games, but every child when he is dreaming is dreaming to play in these games.

"It's a tough ask, hard teams, high quality, but then it's about you. Are you going to fight against them? Always I choose to be there and to make things happen.

"It's tough against these teams, especially away from home, but hopefully I get the opportunity now and play some games as well at home and then I can show more and more. I think I can still bring a lot to the team."

Kayal's prospects of breaking into double figure starts against West Ham at the Amex this evening probably hinge on whether Dale Stephens, his regular central partner in the Championship, recovers from hamstring trouble.

The club that once had Eyal Berkovic and Yossi Benayoun in their ranks would be fitting opponents for Kayal to make a mark against.

"Eyal Berkovic was probably one of the biggest players in Israel, an unbelievable talent," Kayal said. "He did a lot of good things in British football.

"When I was a child he played with West Ham, Manchester City, and he was promoted with them (City). He was phenomenal.

"We know West Ham from him and then Benayoun who played there after. I remember that time more, because I was here.

"When I was a boy and dreaming to get something in my career, we were always looking at Eyal Berkovic and Haim Revivo was the other player, playing for Celta Vigo."

The Argus: Kayal and fellow Israeli Tomer Hemed (above) were inseparable at Albion, on and off the pitch. Now that bond has been fragmented by the latter's departure to Queens Park Rangers in search of regular game time.

"He is still in Brighton," Kayal said. "He moves to London next week.

"We still meet sometimes in the afternoon. Nothing can beat that feeling when you are here with him.

"Obviously I am friends with everyone but with him it's the same language, the same things sometimes to share with him.

"He is obviously a big miss for me but to see him going where he wanted to go and to play, because he is not going to get the chance here, he is happy so I am pleased for him."

Kayal and Hemed will be reunited again next week for Israel's fixtures at home to Albania and Scotland.

Kayal, 30, is still flying the flag for his country in the Premier League.

"First of all I am proud for myself and my family," he said. "They did everything possible to bring about this situation.

"I am probably now the only one in the Premier League, so it's happy days for everyone.

"The most important thing for me is to keep working hard. My dad is here in Brighton at the moment.

"He was an ex-footballer and he said in the Premier League you probably need to train more.

"I said no, it's not just about training, you need to know more about staying in this league.

"Some players were saying after the tough time I had that I would probably want to go somewhere else, playing week in and week out, but no.

"I just think and believe my chance will come and I need to be ready. This is what everyone has seen. I was ready."