It would be easy to throw accusations at Andrew Whing.

To criticise him for failing to mark his Albion debut with a goal.

To suggest, as Micky Adams has, that he is prone to inconsistency and lapses in concentration.

But the Seagulls' latest recruit certainly cannot be called a ginger whinger'.

Whing could have been forgiven for responding less than enthusiastically when, at Coventry's training ground last Friday, Adams broke the news that his old club wanted the 22-year-old Brummie on loan.

Instead he "jumped at the chance" of moving from the middle of the Championship towards the foot of League One.

Whing just wants to play on a regular basis and if that means swapping the luxurious surroundings of the Ricoh Arena for unwelcoming Withdean then so be it.

Not that he has exactly been a back number since breaking through a Coventry youth system producing the likes of Gary McSheffrey, Chris Kirkland and Calum Davenport to make his debut in a 1-0 home defeat by Burnley in February 2003.

Whing has already gone on to make more than 100 appearances in all competitions for the Sky Blues, as well as guaranteeing a place in the history books by scoring the last ever goal at their former home, Highfield Road.

He flourished under the management of Gary McAllister and Eric Black, less so under Peter Reid and Adams.

Reid brought in Louis Carey to replace him at rightback, Adams drafted in Richard Duffy from Portsmouth and was happy to do Albion a favour now that David McNamee, signed from Scottish club Livingston, is free of suspension.

Adams, once a fullback himself of course, likes defenders who defend first and foremost, so you can imagine Whing's attacking instincts provoking a degree of conflict.

That said, Adams recognises his potential and, bearing in mind he has been performing against better wingers than he will come across in League One, Albion have clearly inherited a player of considerable promise.

"There are flaws in his game, whether they be physical or mental, that need to be improved upon and he knows that,"

Adams said.

"I am looking for consistency from him. If we can get that then he has got all the attributes to be a player here but it is a real problem for him.

"That is not being too critical, because on his day he is as good as there is in the Championship, but there are times when he needs to concentrate more and work at his defending."

Whing featured in all three League and FA Cup clashes for Coventry against Albion last season and he came across a couple of familiar faces on his return to Withdean on Sunday.

Ex-Sky Blues Andy Morrell and substitute Claus Jorgensen helped spoil his debut as Blackpool romped to a 3-0 victory.

Maybe it would have been different if Whing had connected with an early attempt at a diving header from a corner but he was among the few Albion players to emerge with any credit.

"We let in a sloppy early goal and that set the tone really," he said. "It was a hard game to be in to start with but I'm disappointed. I was part of a team that lost 3-0 and I'm under no illusions, we have all got to do a lot better.

"I'm still young, so I'm still learning, the same as a lot of the boys. There are a few experienced pros in the team and hopefully they can talk to us and pass on a bit of their experience.

"Everyone has got to stick together.

We cannot let it affect us. We'll put it behind us, that's what we have got to do, and I assure you we will play a lot better.

"Micky only had good things to say about the club. That's why I jumped at the chance of coming here. I really just need a run of games.

"The last couple of years have been the same at Coventry, I've played two or three games here and there and that's not good for your confidence or performances really.

"I've got a chance here and hopefully I can string performances together and we'll review it after a month."

Whing will have plenty of opportunity to catch up on the dramatic turnaround at his beloved Aston Villa with fellow loan recruit Sam Williams between now and the end of his initial loan period when Albion visit Bradford City on November 4.

More loan signings are likely as manager Dean Wilkins tries to arrest the Seagulls' slide.

"I thought he (Whing) did well,"

Wilkins said. "I thought he was one of the pluses for us. We need to freshen the place up a little bit. In the summer we only managed to bring two players in and there are times in a club's development that changes need to be made.

"If you don't make changes players can become complacent, so we are looking to make changes all the time."