Jurgen Locadia has revealed he never wanted to leave Albion.

Now he hopes he has shown why he is worth a big place in their Premier League plans.

Locadia, reported earlier this season in the Netherlands to be unsettled, scored his second goal in a week to beat Everton.

The Dutch forward said: “I never wanted to go on loan or be sold in January. That’s not my intention.

“But I made it clear I want to play games and I talked with the gaffer also.

“I think my place is here in Brighton. I know I have had a difficult time not playing games but I think I have shown the last two games I am worthy of being here."

Locadia's £14 million fee was huge for Albion but modest for a Premier League forward.

Asked whether he felt he had proved his worth, he replied: “I think not yet. I think I can do better, but I think the last two games are a good way to show the quality of what I have got.

“It’s up to me to show every game and again and again.

“I played this way (4-3-3) in Holland as well, so I think it suits me.”

To a suggestion that he was now playing with more confidence, Locadia said: “I think that’s fair.

“It’s tough to train every day and not be in the first eleven, so now I have played in three games.

“And also with my team-mates, they have shown confidence in me and talked with me.

“The gaffer talks with me also and, all in all, I think everything connects together.”