Some Albion fans have found a home from home in Belgium.

They have been enjoying the atmosphere and surrounds at Union St-Gilloise during their years of progress under Seagulls chairman Tony Bloom.

They have seen first-hand the progress made by the currently Belgian league leaders.

They have also noticed how much harder it is to get tickets these days as word spreads.

But trips to the Brussels outskirts will take on an extra edge now as they see three potential Albion first teamers of the not distant future in action.

Deniz Undav joined the ranks this week with Kaoru Mitoma and Kacper Kozlowski also on loan from the Seagulls.

Long-time Albion fan Howie Blanks is among those who have been making occasional trips to Belgium to watch USG.

He loves the atmosphere on the terraces and the camaraderie between players and fans.

He also makes sure he watches as many games as possible on TV, captivated by the attacking style employed by USG.

Undav and strike partner Dante Vanzier have been a huge part of that.

But Howie is confident Albion have got the right one of the pairing.

And - take our word for it - it is something he has been saying since BEFORE Undav signed this week.

Howie said: “I likened them both to (former Albion strike pairing) Ian Mellor and Peter Ward in as much as both feed off each other and are one reason why Union are so successful.

“Both Vanzier and Undav are fine players and I always thought Undav would be the best signing as Vanzier is very similar in style to Leandro Trossard.

“Undav just has the knack of scoring goals.

“He has quick feet and, although not a bustling centre forward, he is good in the air and will improvise with what ever it takes to put the ball in the net.

“He would work well with both Trossard and Neal Maupay.

“Critics will argue he is unproven at Premier level but he is someone that has proved at all levels so far, he can score goals.”

The strengthening Albion connection will just add interest to the next trip in March.

Bloom has ambitious plans for a new stadium but, for now, the charms of the old ground remain.

Howie said: “It’s an amazing place. The clubhouse is like Lewes.

“We were made really welcome there.

“We got to know some of the locals “We were telling them that Tony Bloom would do it the right way.

“He would do it slowly, build the structure up.”

Many fans watch from an open terrace down the side of the pitch, backed by trees.

Howie said: “The place was like Withdean. It just had the feel about it.

“But the history of the club and the culture makes it a lovely place.

“They slipped down to the third division and Bloom went in and saved the club.

“It has noticeably been getting busier and it all feels a bit slicker now.

“But the relationship between players and fans is quite extraordinary.”

Eurostar and reasonably-priced hotels make weekend trips to Belgium very accessible.

The travelling Seagulls fraternity could not quite work out why Moises Caicedo was dispatched to lowly Beerschot and can now rethink plans to go and see them play.

Caicedo is back with Albion for the second half of the season.

They hope to be on the terraces next month when USG take on Oostende.

By happy coincidence, that could now give them chance to see Albion’s on-loan goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen in action.

He signed on loan for Oostende this week and could be in for a battering given USG won the first fixture 7-1 on the road.

Howie said: “I’ve got the big. I love watching Union play.

“They are such an exciting team. They just go for it.

“Mitoma has gone down a storm over there.

“There’s a few of us who go and we have exchanged shirts, hats and scarves with the locals.

“It’s such an exciting story.”