Adam Virgo will be driven on by memories of his dad as he launches his second spell with Albion.

Virgo headed straight for his father Bob, sitting proudly in the Withdean crowd, after his last-gasp goal and penalty in the shoot-out helped the Seagulls to victory over Swindon and a place in the play-off final four years ago.

Sadly, Bob is no longer around to see his son back in the blue and white stripes.

Terminally ill with liver disease, he died in 2005 after being attacked by a burglar at his home but he will still be a source of inspiration every time Virgo is getting dressed for action.

"I have taken his lucky number, 23, this season, so hopefully that will bring me a bit of luck," Virgo said.

"He was always in my thoughts when I was coming back. Everything I do now is for him and I just want to get playing again, get the club in the play-offs and maybe challenging for the title."

There can never be a substitute for the real thing but returning to Albion also reunites Virgo for a fourth time with his footballing father figure, Micky Adams.

The versatile 25-year-old would not be back with the Seagulls on a free transfer from Celtic if Adams, who handed him his debut seven years ago, had not been reappointed as manager.

"I had other offers to play in the Championship but it wasn't about that or the money," Virgo revealed.

"It's about being comfortable playing under a manager I respect personally and professionally.

"When I spoke to Micky I had something in the back of my mind saying is it right to be coming back again?' but the gaffer said all the right things to me.

"He tried to get me at Coventry. Unfortunately I had a cruciate injury, which held me back, and he then recommended me to Colchester, so I think to myself there is a manager who rates me and likes me and I think he wants to get the best out of me again.

"He is the one to do that. If someone else other than Micky had come in I might still have got the phone call but I would have said thanks but no thanks.

"I saw a different side of him last season when he was assistant manager at Colchester, something I hadn't seen growing up maybe in fear of him.

"I am 25 now, a little bit older, but I respect him greatly and I thank him for the opportunity he has given me." Opportunity has knocked again for Virgo at Albion, three years after leaving for Celtic in a £1.5 million deal.

He only made a dozen appearances for the Scottish giants and was released from a four year contract at the end of last season after long-term loans with Coventry and Colchester.

"There was good and bad," he said. "The good was having the move, playing in Old Firm games in front of the most fanatical fans in the world and for one of the biggest clubs in Europe.

"On the other side of it, I was unfortunate with injuries and things didn't really happen for me. Sometimes they have been out of my control but if you reflect too much you never move on. I have learnt a lot and hopefully I can use that to my advantage down here.

"It's different this time. When I left I was one of the youngsters and now I am seen as one of the senior pros. It's strange but I don't feel awkward coming back at all. People might think it is a bad option but I feel so happy here again. I know myself I have made the right decision.

"Some will see me as a signing that will do great things again and do well for the team. Others might see me as a backward step. In football there are always different opinions.

"In my years away there have been a lot of opinions about me. Some have been good and some have been disappointing.

"I've had a bad couple of years on and off the pitch and I just want to enjoy my football again."

Can Virgo be a hit second time around?