Albion fans have been told they can’t get under Alex Pritchard’s skin with boos.

But that might not stop them trying The former Tottenham playmaker goes up against the Seagulls on Saturday for the fourth time since he pulled out of a move to the Amex at the last minute.

He has previously been booed and jeered by Seagulls followers who recall how he turned his back on their club and joined Norwich City instead in the summer window of 2016.

Now Pritchard’s former captain has revealed how the abuse neither fires him up, nor puts him off his game.

His Norwich City skipper Russell Martin told The Argus: “The boos might affect certain players – especially I suppose if they are coming from your own fans!

“But he wasn’t bothered either way.

“He made that decision to go to Norwich and he stuck by it, right or wrong.

“You could say it has worked out for him because he is playing in the Premier League now and that is where a player of his talents should be.

“He was so close to signing for Brighton, then he came to us at the last minute.

“We hijacked the deal and it upset quite a few people.

“I remember Grant Holt was the sort of player who got booed most weeks and he liked it, he thrived on it.

“Some people will go under a bit when they get that.

“With Alex, it doesn’t affect him either way.”

Pritchard ran a gauntlet of abuse when his Norwich side lost 5-0 at the Amex soon after he turned his back on Albion.

He then had the last laugh when his two shots against the post – both of which rebounded in off David Stockdale for own goals – cost Albion any chance of winning the Championship title in the return fixture at Carrow Road.

Pritchard played for Huddersfield when they drew 1-1 at the Amex last season.

Martin believes he is a man for Albion to keep close tabs on when they visit a Huddersfield side buzzing from their 2-0 win at Wolves.

He said: “He has improved on the defensive side.

“I spoke to him recently and he was quite surprised by the demands they put on him there in that respect.

“He is a brilliant footballer. He will be one to look out for.

“He has great ability off left and right foot.

“He is small and sharp and they use him quite well with Aaron Mooy.”

Martin, the Brighton-based former Scotland international defender, believes Pritchard was targeted for special attention by some Albion players in that 5-0 win over Norwich.

He said: “It was quite soon after he signed for us that we went down there and it was a difficult day for all of us, not just him.

“I think some players had a point of view about him and he was being kicked a bit.

“Our manager felt he was being targeted and had a word to the referee about it.”

Martis is now at Walsall as player/coach.

He said: “We’ve got a good squad – a young squad so it’s up and down.

“It’s good be back playing at a decent level and helping the team out.”

Martin is now at Walsall as player/coach.

He said: “We’ve got a good squad – a young squad so it’s up and down.

“It’s good be back playing at a decent level and helping the team out.”