Albion's latest debutant says the Championship has given him a great grounding.

But he is relishing the change to forge a Premier League future under Roberto De Zerbi.

Jan Paul van Hecke made his first Prem start in the 2-2 draw with Leicester City on Saturday.

It was a largely positive afternoon although he recognised he should have done better on the second Leicester goal.

Van Hecke was player of the year last term with a Blackburn side who reached the play-offs playing decent football.

But the work he has done day after day on the training ground with Graham Potter and De Zerbi has taken it to another level.

He told The Argus: “It’s a big difference, to be honest. Now we play a lot from the back and always try to play attractive football.

“But always from the back with that intention.

“Last year was a bit different.

“The Championship is a bit different to the Premier League.

“It’s more up and down and keep going.

“You lose a lot of balls.

“Here it’s like every detail needs to be right. It is good learning for me.”

Van Hecke has been linked with loan interest both last summer and in the current window.

Middlesbrough, against whom he fared well in the FA Cup recently, are said to be keen on adding him to their promotion challenge between now and May.

But it is thought unlikely he will drop back down a division.

He went on as a late sub at home to Leeds late in the summer window to help repel a rather route one approach from the visitors as they looked for a late equaliser.

But even then head coach Potter said there was rather more to his game than that.

More reason for him to be staying with the Seagulls.

Chances to prove as much have not been forthcoming – until now.

But, with Levi Colwill ruled out at the King Power, it was Van Hecke who got the nod to partner Lewis Dunk ahead of Adam Webster.

Webster, who has been short of game time after a recent injury, was then given 63 minutes with the under-21s on Sunday.

It will be interesting to see who plays against Liverpool with Colwill reported to be out for a few weeks.

And then maybe even more intriguing to see who gets the nod when Premier League action returns a week on Saturday at home to Bournemouth.

Webster can now be classed as experienced, Van Hecke as the rookie.

The Dutchman, who also had a loan stint at Herenveen, said: “If you look at our team there a lot of young players. I think there are five or six really young players.

“If you look at the line-up, the average age is really low.

“That is good for Brighton.

“There is a good combination with the older guys.

“If you play next to guys like Lewis Dunk you can learn more.

“It’s easy to play next to him because he knows how to play.

“Everyone is really up for the rest of the season and really looking forward to it.

“We are playing really good football and I think everyone is excited.”

Van Hecke was in agreement with colleagues who felt the point at the King Power was not a bad outcome – but it could have been better.

Albion raced to get the ball back to halfway after Evan Ferguson headed them level.

Van Hecke said: “That was the feeling we had, that we could win the game.

“If you have a lot of the ball, you create more chances than them.

“We had the feeling we could win.

“But in the end we need to be happy with the point.”

De Zerbi gave a positive assessment of Van Hecke’s efforts, including his work on the ball.

Albion noticeably gave him possession two or three times very early as they tempted Leicester to get out of their shape and press.

De Zerbi said: “He played well.

“In the first half, it was very difficult because Leicester defended with order.

“There wasn’t space inside the pitch, in the middle.

“It was difficult to find the best solution.

“But I am happy for him. It was the first game in the Premier League.

“He is very young. Like with Ferguson, my work is to help our young players to progress, to find the right way for them, for us.”