James Milner has revealed how heavy snowfall denied him the chance to join Everton.

But it wasn’t when he was planning his next move after Liverpool a couple of seasons ago.

The Albion midfielder returns to Merseyside this weekend as the Seagulls kick-off the Toffees’ final season at Goodison Park.

He expects the customary welcome from the blue side of Stanley Park and an intense atmosphere coming from the old stands packed tight to the pitch.

It will be a far cry from the time his first game of the season was at Withdean in League One as 17-year-old on loan.

But he might have worn the blue of Everton as an even younger player had the weather been kinder.

Asked whether reports he could have moved to Goodison last year were accurate, he told The Argus: “No, the only time I nearly joined Everton was when I was ten and they asked me to go for a trial game.

“It got called off because of snow and I didn’t hear anything else.

“Then three months later Leeds rang up.”

So he could have come through the Everton ranks?

“It was just ‘come for a trial game’ so I have no idea and at that age you haven’t thought about being a professional footballer.

“Then Leeds rang and that was it.”

Milner was out on loan from Elland Road when he travelled to Withdean with Swindon for his first appearance of the 2003-04 campaign.

It was a season which would end with those two clubs meeting in the play-offs - and Albion going on to success over Bristol City in the final.

Milner had gone back to Yorkshire long before then but he recalls that opening appearance of what was only his second professional season.

The roads into Brighton can be pretty busy on a sunny Saturday afternoon in late summer - as was evidently the case on that occasion.

(Image: Liz Finlayson)

Milner said: “I remember one of our players who was meeting us at the ground getting caught in traffic and he had to run the last mile to make sure he was there in time for the warm-up.

“I remember a (2-2) draw. It was my first game on loan at Swindon.

“It was an eye-opener. It felt like the ball was out of play forever!

“It was a bit of change for me.

“I had a month on loan at Swindon, I played six games and I had a great time.

“But definitely I remember that game.”

Milner remains in great shape 21 years on and has been effective in central midfield in four recent friendlies.

He looks set to man the engine room alongside Mats Wieffer as the serious stuff gets under way, as was the case against Villarreal.

Asked whether he is even fitter now than he was way back then, when he was up against lower-division warriors such as Charlie Oatway, Richard Carpenter and Adam Hinshelwood, he said: “I think I’m different.

“I’m probably stronger. Battle-hardened, would you say? I was probably a bit quicker back then, I would think.

“You obviously adapt to the football and, as your career goes on, your body changes and it depends what position you are playing and things like that.”

Milner’s senior status makes him a dream for those who love Albion stats, records and trivia.

He was 38 years and 223 days old on Wednesday, which is not usually a significant landmark.

However, it was at exactly that age that former skipper Bruno played his final game.

Therefore, Milner will become the club’s oldest top-flight player next time he steps on to the pitch and will break his own record with each subsequent appearance.

If he scores, he will become the oldest Albion goalscorer in history.

His first ever appearance at Goodison was back in 2002-03, when he went on as a late sub in a 2-0 defeat for Leeds.

Albion’s current technical director David Weir was in the home team that day.

A reverse of that result this weekend would be more than welcome.

Heavy snowfall should not be an issue this time.