Wayne Henderson today revealed the hands-on part played by former Albion No. 1 Eric Steele in improving his distribution skills.

The young keeper launched Leon Knight's opening goal in Saturday's 3-3 draw at Leeds with a catch and quick throw-out from a corner.

On-loan Henderson can also kick with either foot, an attribute developed through training at Aston Villa with Steele.

The Seagulls' moustached ex-custodian, who made 98 appearances for the club in the late Seventies, is now the goalkeeping coach at Villa Park.

"At Villa, Eric Steele is very big into the way you distribute the ball as a goalkeeper," Henderson said. "Keelo (Albion goalkeeping coach John Keeley) is the same, we work on that every day.

"With the pace we have got up front that has to be something I keep working on.

"Kicking with my left or right foot has also developed with Eric over the last two years.

"There are days where he won't let you use your good foot, it's that intense. That can only stand you in good stead."

Some supporters in the South Stand were not appreciative of Henderson's attempts in a previous home game to launch a counter-attack with a long kick which did not find its intended target.

He was applauded from the sidelines for his quick-thinking on that occasion by Bob Booker and Albion's assistant manager and former Sheffield United legend will be urging more of the same against his old club at Withdean tonight.

"Wayne's distribution for the first goal at Leeds was fantastic," said Booker. "That is one of his attributes.

"He can kick with both feet and throw it quickly. That suits the way we are playing at the moment."

It wasn't only Henderson's distribution which drew applause at Elland Road.

The Republic of Ireland under-21 international, outstanding in his country's 2-1 home defeat against France last week, made a string of fine saves early on.

"Wayne got rave reviews and man-of-the-match when he went away with the international squad and he carried that on," Booker said.

"He was peppered quite a bit but his reactions, especially in the first half, were tremendous."

Henderson denied two-goal David Healy three times during Leeds' initial onslaught and was unfortunate that another fine stop from Northern Ireland's match-winner against England last week fell for sub Jonathan Douglas to slot a stoppage-time equaliser.

"I was delighted with my performance," he said. "The manager, all the coaches and the lads said the same.

"It was devastating to let three in, but at the same time I played pretty well. I'm just trying to raise my profile and make a name for myself.

"Against Sheffield it's going to be the same as Saturday. I think we're going to be under a lot of pressure.

"I thought we coped pretty well with it at Leeds. It was just a shame that towards the end we lost our way a little bit."

It's not often that two international goalkeepers are in action at Withdean. That is the case tonight, with Henderson's fellow countryman Paddy Kenny in goal for the table-toppers.

Kenny is understudy to Shay Given in the full Republic of Ireland senior squad, so Henderson has the perfect stage to enhance his own senior international ambitions.

"I was talking to the missus about it," he said. "It's going to be good, I've never played against Paddy at all before.

"The only time I've actually spoken to Paddy was out in Israel, because we travel out with the senior team.

"After the game we had a night out together, so it was nice to socialise with him. I've never trained or played with him.

"I don't know what kind of training he does or set up he has at Sheffield United, but I know he's got a manager (Neil Warnock) behind him.

"He doesn't have a goalkeeper on the bench most of the time, so there's a lot of pressure on Paddy there. So far he has coped brilliantly."

So, too, has Henderson for Albion since his move from Villa at the start of the month, which was initially for a month and is now for two more through to early November.

Knight would like him around for longer. "He's a top class goalkeeper and his technique and ability to find people with his feet is second to none," said the little striker.

"We're glad to have him here and hopefully we can keep him longer than he has signed for or sign him on a permanent basis.

"He's been working with Premiership coaches since he was young and you can see that now with some of the save he pulls off."

Henderson was born to be a goalkeeper - his dad and two brothers all are - but you could imagine him trying to use his feet, or head, if Albion are a goal down tonight and awarded a late corner.

"I played three games outfield when I was about nine and scored four goals, so I've got a little bit to offer," he said with a smile.

From goalkeeping to goalscoring saviour? Albion would have Eric Steele to thank for that.