Adam El-Abd is aiming for a professional contract and plenty more first team appearances for Albion after a sound debut.

The Brighton-born teenager made his senior bow at the heart of the back four in Tuesday's LDV Vans Trophy tie against Boston at Withdean.

Now El-Abd, in the final year of his scholarship, wants to repeat the experience again and again.

"My ambition is to try and cement a position, whether this year or the coming years," he said.

"I've grown up as a fan of the club so it's brilliant to be involved. Hopefully one day I can hold down a first team spot permanently."

El-Abd settled into his senior role with remarkable maturity. He replaced rested captain Danny Cullip in the centre of defence alongside Guy Butters, with fellow youth products Adam Hinshelwood at rightback and Kerry Mayo making his 60th successive appearance at leftback.

"I really enjoyed it," reflected the sturdy 19-year-old. "Dean Wilkins (youth coach) came to me on Monday morning and told me I was involved.

"I had no idea I was starting. I assumed I would be on the bench, then the gaffer gave me the bib to line up in the back four for training.

"I didn't really have time to suffer any nerves because it all happened so quickly.

"In the first ten minutes I could see their No. 4 Ellender was going to be a handful in the air. He won the majority of headers on the halfway line but thankfully not in the box where it counts."

El-Abd is an adaptable performer. He usually operates at rightback for the reserves but had no difficulty settling into his central position with some familiar faces around him.

"I don't really mind where I play," he explained. "I can play centre back, rightback or centre midfield, which I have done for the majority of the youth team games.

"I've played for the last couple of years with Hinsh, so I know how we plays. I played with Guy in the reserves last season quite a few times and he helped me along with his experience.

"I've only played with Kerry a couple of times but he is obviously going to help the youngsters because he's been there and done it."

El-Abd had plenty of support on his big night from his sporty family. Younger brother Sami was particularly close to the action as one of the ball boys.

"Sami is an under-16 at the moment and he's hoping to be taken on a scholarship," said Adam. "He is left-footed, so he can play leftback or centre half.

"My older brother (Joe) drove down from Bath and my mum and lots of friends were there as well. My dad (Saied) couldn't make it. He was in Spain on business and didn't have enough notice to get a flight back.

"He is Egyptian. He used to referee and reached County One standard. He had to retire through old age, although he won't like me saying that!"

Joe, 24, prefers the oval ball. He was contracted to Bath last season and is now a flanker for Bristol, as well as their strengthening and fitness coach.

Adam could have followed in Joe's footsteps. "I really enjoyed playing rugby when I was at school.

"I was an inside centre but it reached the point where I had to choose one or the other due to the amount of games I had to play."

Adam is built like a rugby player and it would be unwise to get on the wrong side of the El-Abds.

"It runs in the family," he said. "My dad is fairly broad shouldered. I'm the runt of the family actually. I get ribbed when it comes to family photos. I'm always the dwarf. My two brothers tower over me."

El-Abd, who had a spell on loan at Bognor last season, went to Longhill, the same school that produced Ian Chapman.

Chapman used to coach Sami at the school of excellence. Perhaps the El-Abd brothers will become two more defensive stalwarts for Albion.

They have a long way to go, of course, to emulate Chapman's record for the Seagulls, but the club's youth policy is really beginning to flourish.

Tuesday night's match finished with five home-grown players on the pitch, substitute Dan Marney joining two-goal hero Chris McPhee, El-Ab, Hinshelwood and Mayo.

Another, Dean Hammond, is on loan to Leyton Orient at the moment.

The midfielder's first team involvement with Albion came to a halt when Martin Hinshelwood was axed 13 months ago but he regards the recent appointment of Mark McGhee as a fresh start.

Hammond is keen to make an impact once his loan spell at Orient comes to an end next Saturday. "I would like to come back here to show the manager what I can do," he said.

"I scored against Ipswich last season, then played against Watford and then wasn't involved.

"It's just the way it panned out. Steve Coppell had different opinions and played the team he wanted to play, so you just have to get on with it.

"There are a lot of good midfielders at the club. It's a strong position, so it was hard to get in.

"It's a new chance for me now with a new manager coming in. My contract is up at the end of the season but I have been here for so long, since I was about 11, and I definitely want to play for Brighton."