Roberto De Zerbi said Carlos Baleba is the future of Albion – after taking him off at half-time.

The head coach declined a chance to speak about two points dropped after his side drew 1-1 at Crystal Palace.

De Zerbi told reporters: “It’s not the first one so I can’t say we lost two points.

“Yes, if you watched the game, we lost two points but, to win the game, we can’t make these mistakes.

“In the first half we played well but without the right energy to score and to not concede a goal.

“We conceded another bad goal and we didn’t score in not many chances but I think two big chances.

“We are playing with many young players.

“The young players need time to improve, to progress.

“If you remember Facundo Buonanotte two or three months ago, he was different to the Facundo Buonanotte today.

“Baleba is not ready yet to play at this level but he has incredible potential and the policy of Brighton is to play with many young players.

“We have to accept and we have to be happy to play, to work, with these young players.

“Welbeck is different to Baleba. Pascal Gross is different to Baleba.

“But Baleba is the future of the club.

“Adingra the same, Evan Ferguson the same, Facundo Buonanotte the same.

“Yes, I can say we lost two points but the truth is not this.

“The truth is we are playing a lot of games and to keep this level we have to play better.

“Like this is not enough.”