Cam Peupion gave a reminder of his exciting potential with a superb hat-trick for Albion under-21s.

The Australian wideman, who had a tough loan at Cheltenham this time last year, is not among the numerous prospects who have gone out this time.

He shone for a young Seagulls side as they beat Reading 4-0 in the League Cup.

His second-half treble got better as it went on – and was followed by a tidy Harry Howell finish to round off the scoring.

Peupion, playing left of centre, guided home a precise finish inside the far post after some good set-up play by Sahil Bashir and unselfish work by Louis Flower to commit two defenders and find the goalscorer in space.

Then Peupion cut inside to curl a superb finish around a defender and inside the far post.

And his third was the best as he met Joe Knight’s looping cross with a thunderous volley which flew high past the keeper.

Howell turned home a Harry Mills cut-back to complete the scoring with Peupion again involved in the move down the left.

Jamie Mullins skippered Albion and was creative in midfield.

Albion: Hall, Mackley, Mills, Simmonds, Penman, Owusu (Knight 60), Bashir (Duffus 60), Mullins, Flower, Moulton (Howell 67), Peupion.