Brighton chief executive Paul Barber believes they are starting to reap the rewards from their academy.

Since the American Express Elite Football performance centre opened in 2014 there have been a number of players that have broken into the first team.

In the last two seasons, Aaron Connolly, Steven Alzate, Robert Sanchez, and Ben White have become first-team regulars.

Graham Potter has also named Under-23’s Teddy Jenks, Jenson Weir, Reda Khadra and Tom McGill in the matchday squad this season.

But Barber expects them to have more success with the academy in the future.

He said: “John Morling and his team are doing a great job.

“We have got a lot of exciting youngsters coming through from all angles and we said when we opened the academy, it would probably take half a decade to start seeing the fruits of our labor.

“Before we opened Lancing we only had schools of excellence, which were nowhere the levels of coaching or facilities we have got now.

“Therefore you start to see the fruits of your labor four or five years into the programme and we are beginning to do that.

“Which is great not only for the club now but also in the future it will help us to attract players across the country to an academy that not only progresses young players but can see a pathway through to the first team which gives them the best chance of playing top-level football.

“So, it is a really exciting time and we are pleased with the progress the youngsters are making.”

One of the players who has been one of the success stories of the academy is White.

He joined Albion as a 16-year-old.

White then went on a series of loans with League Two side Newport County, League One side Peterborough and most recently in the 2019/20 season at Leeds, where he caught the eye.

Last summer the Seagulls rejected several offers from Leeds for White after he played a vital role in their promotion to the Prem.

He has gone on to be a regular this season.

His performances saw him named in England’s provisional 33-man squad for the Euros last week

However on Tuesday it was announced that white had missed out on the 26-man squad.

Despite that he won his first cap for England last night in their friendly against Austria.

Read more: White wins his first England cap

But despite missing out on going to the Euros, Barber was full of praise for White.

He said: “It is fantastic for Ben and thoroughly deserved.

“He is a good character both on and off the pitch and hopefully, Gareth (Southgate) will use Ben in the two friendlies.

“With the World Cup next year, he puts himself in pole position to make a claim to be part of that squad.

"It is great for Ben and for us as a club."