Gus Poyet has demanded the biggest and best pitch possible at The Amex to suit his Albion team’s passing style.

The manager has been heavily involved in the playing surface arrangements for the Seagulls’ new ground and wants it to be “the biggest and best in the country”.

The pitch at The American Express Community Stadium next season will be quite a contrast to the mud-strewn test Poyet is preparing his players for in the fourth round of the FA Cup at Watford tomorrow.

Albion’s Championship hosts share Vicarage Road with Saracens rugby union club which, although beneficial in financial terms, means the pitch takes a real hammering.

Poyet said: “We have been to watch them a couple of times and the two reports said the pitch is in really bad condition. I hope it has maybe recovered a little bit.

“I understand why they groundshare but it’s complicated and I am sure it is for the staff at Watford. They have been trying to play football and they have got players that can pass the ball well. I am sure that pitch doesn’t help, even if they have been winning.

“We need to give plenty of credit to our groundsman Steve (Winterburn) and his team for the pitch at Withdean, because between the Peterborough and Colchester games the improvement was amazing and it made a difference to our passing and the way we play.

“That’s why I have said at The Amex we need to have the best pitch in the country if we want to play football.

“I know the club is making a big effort on that. Look at how Arsenal pass the ball and is there a better pitch in England than The Emirates?

“It is the size of the pitch as well. We need to play the type of football with a bigger pitch. Of course, that puts you under pressure because you need to be better physically and you need to defend better.

“That’s what we have decided and I think the club is happy with it. We need the biggest and best pitch in the country.”