Albion chairman Dick Knight is hoping the success stories of departed prospects Adam Virgo and Dan Harding will encourage promising Sussex youngsters to sign up for the Seagulls.

Virgo is expected to make his home debut for Celtic against Aberdeen on Saturday after starting their last outing, a 4-0 win at Dunfermline.

Meanwhile, Harding lines up for Leeds against Albion at Elland Road on Saturday. Both defenders came through the Seagulls' flourishing youth system before their big money moves during the close season.

Knight said: "Longer term the story of Adam Virgo and Dan Harding is a huge incentive to all young people in this county.

"I think we tend to take for granted that all the young players from Sussex come to Albion.

"The set-up with the centres of excellence and the job that Martin Hinshelwood (director of football) and Dean Wilkins (youth coach) and all the coaches do is fantastic but we still face competition.

"For example, in East Sussex, Charlton are making a big effort. The story of success for Dan Harding and Adam Virgo can only be a huge incentive for parents to say: 'I want my kids to come to Brighton, because they have got a real chance there.'

"I think the repercussions will echo for years to come. It demonstrates that this club does bring players through and creates an opportunity for them."

Jake Robinson has started the last three matches, while diminutive midfielder Dean Cox made his first senior appearance as a late substitute against Plymouth at Withdean ten days ago.

Beneath that other homegrown products, like centre half Gary Elphick and leftback Sam Rents, are emerging.

Manager Mark McGhee said: "There aren't any of them who I feel at this moment in time are ready to step into the squad.

"They are all showing promise, they've all improved and developed and a group of them look as though they could be players.

"In my experience it is usually not a gradual process.

Something happens, they get their chance.

"It was unfortunate for Rents that he got an injury, otherwise he would have trained with us and we had planned to put him in the preseason friendly at Oxford.

"His injury held him back and it could be he has missed his chance to be with the first team. There is a little bit of luck involved sometimes with the young lads but we do look at them closely and watch them as much as we can.

"Joel Lynch is another one. There's a small group that are not far away but not quite ready."

Harding's international prospects have not been instantly enhanced by his move to Leeds.

He failed to win a place back into Peter Taylor's England under-21 squad for the games against Germany on Tuesday and Wales last Friday.

Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell said: "I heard Peter Taylor eulogising on the radio the other day about Dan Harding, so it is a little surprising.

"Right now Dan has a bigger challenge and it's not England under-21 caps, it's cementing his future at Leeds, because if he doesn't do that then he's got no chance of playing for England.

"Dan was nervous when he first arrived but he is starting to settle down now and I think his displays recently have been superb.

"Once he develops certain aspects of his game and builds up his self confidence, he will be flying."