Albion boss Chris Hughton has played down record buy Jurgen Locadia's limited role in the push for Premier League safety.

Hughton says he is "delighted" with the £14 million Dutchman, who has started only two League games since his move from PSV Eindhoven in January.

He believes there is a lot more to come from the Seagulls' most expensive purchase.

Locadia did not feature in the draws at home to Spurs and away to Burnley after he was substituted at half-time in the 3-2 defeat at Crystal Palace.

He arrived from the Netherlands nursing a hamstring injury and has played 149 minutes in total in the top flight.

Hughton told The Argus: "We've been delighted with him, from what we've seen.

"Where it's been a little bit more difficult for him is that he is a centre-forward, quite a flexible player that has played in a 4-3-3 on numerous occasions at PSV but we see him very much as a centre-forward.

"For what we have in Glenn (Murray), who of course has done well and been scoring goals, and Leo (Ulloa) having brought him on loan from Leicester, they are very much used to the League here and used to playing as number nines in this division.

"Overall we have been delighted with him and probably he's missed out simply because of the strengths of the other two.

"But he's a player that has settled in really well and I think there's a lot more to come from him."

Locadia is likely to be on the bench again against Manchester United at the Amex tomorrow night.

He played in last month's FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Old Trafford (below) after scoring in the previous round against Coventry at the Amex and as a substitute in the home win over Swansea in the Premier League.

The Argus: Strengthening the strike force has dominated the narrative of the last two transfer windows for Albion.

They missed out last summer before adding Locadia and Ulloa to Murray, Tomer Hemed and Sam Baldock.

Hughton does not anticipate the striker situation heading the agenda again this summer.

"Probably not actually," he said. "Particularly with the way that we play. At times we'll play 4-3-3 but predominantly we play 4-4-1-1. There aren't many games in this division where we've played what would be regarded as two number nines.

"I don't think you need a huge amount of number nines, you need that little bit of flexibility around it and I think Jurgen fits into that. He can play off a nine and in a 4-3-3, so I'm not sure I see the emphasis very much on a nine.