Carlos Baleba has caused a fair bit of excitement among Albion fans.

Mahmoud Dahoud probably less so but that is not a bad thing.

In Dahoud’s case, it has probably been more about approving nods as he plays an elder statesman type role belying his 27 years.

Both were involved in goals during the second half of Sunday’s decisive second-half performance to beat Bournemouth.

Dahoud with an astute touch of which Adam Lallana or Pascal Gross would have been proud.

Baleba with a charging run and an athletic tackle perhaps a little reminiscent of his Albion and Lille predecessor Yves Bissouma.

The hint from Roberto De Zerbi yesterday was both are more likely to start at Stamford Bridge than former Chelsea man Billy Gilmour.

Seagulls fans will certainly be keen to see what Baleba can do in midfield territories which are now home to Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.

While De Zerbi resisted a question about looking to win the cup at his press conference yesterday, he wants to go as strong as possible with his selection at Stamford Bridge.

And rightly so.

The current Albion squad has been assembled and curated with a view to keeping the club as competitive as possible on four fronts.

While using Baleba and Dahoud does not weaken midfield now, the experience would arguably strengthen that area for weeks and months to come.

Dahoud started wins over Luton, Manchester United and Bournemouth and always looks to have time on the ball.

Equally, there have been moments which have given his side a bit of defensive work to do.

De Zerbi took his time over introducing Baleba - longer than he took for Ansu Fati - but appeared to have got his timing right when he sent him on against the Cherries.

The Albion boss has certainly not ruled out using Gilmour at some stage this evening.

But he said: “We have to help to come inside the new players, new midfielders, Dahoud and Carlos Baleba.

“Dahoud I think is improving.

“He can be another very important player for us but we have to give him much time to understand our play.

“Our idea is not so easy.

“Especially for the midfielders and centre-backs, they need much time.

“After this period, after these four games, they can help us more, but we have to finish this part of the season in the best way.”

The days when Albion would send out a mix-and-match, or very youthful, team in the Carabao Cup have gone.

For one thing, they have no need to.

And De Zerbi has no intention of treating any competition lightly.

Put out a second-choice team?

That assumes you have an undisputed first team but how many players come into that category?

Lewis Dunk, Pervis Estupinan and Pascal Gross, probably - and Gross is out injured.

One can probably add Kaoru Mitoma, even though he was benched on Sunday.

Solly March possibly comes into the category too, but he is being nursed through this period.

After that? We can all suggest who our preferred options would be but there are currently very few automatic choices for at least six positions.

And there are a lot of players who will feel very much part of the first team picture.

Baleba and Dahoud are two of them.

De Zerbi said: “It is too early to speak about winning the competition. The mentality of the team can’t decide which games you have to play seriously and which you can play not at your best.

“When we wear the official shirt we have to push and I know only this way.

“Obviously I have to consider the players who are at risk of injury.

“Maybe the players who can’t play 90 minutes.

“The players who played 90 minutes on Sunday against Bournemouth, maybe they can’t play another 90 minutes.

“And I have to consider another game at Aston Villa on Saturday.”