Albion defender Markus Suttner has completed his loan move back to the German Bundesliga with Fortuna Dusseldorf for the rest of the season.

The 31-year-old Austrian left-back has not featured in the Premier League this season after the Seagulls signed Brazilian ex-Red Bull Salzburg and Red Bull Leipzig defender Bernardo in the summer, leaving Suttner as third-choice.

Suttner, who was signed from Ingolstadt, said in an interview with LAOLA1: "They (Albion) already told me that it will be difficult for me. But after my son was born in September, I did not want to change in the summer - that would have been too much stress. The family comes first!

"From the summer it was clear that I am only third choice in the left-back position. Gaetan Bong played at the end of the season and was in the lead, so he was number two.

"After that I never really got a chance anymore. That's the way football is. I do not regret the move to Brighton, I played Premier League. It's part of the business that a few players are always exchanged - now it's just me."

Suttner made the last of his 14 Premier League appearances for Albion ten months ago. He is under contract until the summer of 2020.

Manager Chris Hughton said: "Markus has been a great pro since he joined us two summers ago, but he hasn't been able to play the number of games he would have liked, due to the strong competition we have in the left-back position.

"This move will allow him to play regular football in the top division of the Bundesliga. I would like to wish him all the very best for the remainder of the season."