Albion will decorate their defence today with the capture of Marcos Painter on loan from Championship side Swansea.

But the versatile Brummie will miss out on the Seagulls’ glamour FA Cup date with Aston Villa.

It is a case of second time lucky for Albion with Painter. The 23-year-old left-back or centre half was also a loan target for them in 2006.

Boss Gus Poyet said: “Marcos is a good signing for us and I am looking forward to working with him. He is left-footed, which is good because we don’t have too many in the side.

“He knows the division, having won promotion with Swansea, and gives us good competition for places.”

Painter was a regular in the Swansea side which rounded off their title-winning campaign in League One in 2007-08 with a victory at Withdean after playing in the Premier League for Birmingham.

He has struggled to command a regular place with the Welshmen this season under their Portuguese manager Paulo Sousa following a cruciate knee ligament injury last season.

A close friend of Albion’s Birmingham-born Aston Villa fanatic Andrew Whing, Painter will have to sit out the fourth round tie at Villa Park on Saturday week as he has already appeared in the FA Cup for Swansea.

He could make his debut at Walsall on Saturday and said: “I’m looking forward to the challenge. I’ve spoken to Gus and I think he’s looking at me as a centre half as well.

“The last time I played at Brighton was when Swansea lifted the League One Trophy so that must be a good omen!”

Albion have already agreed short-term deals with four players during the January transfer window.

Slovakian goalkeeper Peter Brezovan and Spanish defender Inigo Calderon have signed contracts for the rest of the season. Gavin Hoyte is staying on loan from Arsenal and Seb Carole has returned on a rolling weekly contract.

Poyet has reiterated his desire to do most of his major transfer business in the summer. He said: “I want to make my squad in July and start with the players I am expecting to play for the whole season.

“Apart from very extreme circumstances I will expect to finish with the same ones, so January will be for emergencies or because something hasn’t worked. That is my way of looking at it. Some people see January in a different way.

“This one is different, because the squad had been made before I arrived and I have got a chance to change a few things.”

Seats for the Villa game can be booked online by Young Seagulls and White members from 9am today.

The FA Youth Cup tie against Everton, due to be played at Withdean tomorrow night, is subject to a 10am pitch inspection today.