Gary Chivers has a special interest in Albion’s Carling Cup tie at Swansea.

It is not so much that he played for the pair of them as the presence in the Seagulls’ midfield of Andrew Crofts.

Chivers has taken a keen interest in the way Crofts’ career has progressed ever since the summer signing from Gillingham played for him as a youngster at Chelsea.

It is not a surprise to the ex-Albion and Swansea defender that Crofts is doing better than someone else who played for both clubs, Leon Knight.

Crofts’ former Chelsea team-mate Knight has nosedived to the extent that he was recently let go by an undistinguished Greek side.

Chivers said: “I was training Chelsea’s under-12s and under-13s. Andrew was going to one of our centres at Gillingham and he started playing for the under-12s.

“He was an inside forward, an old-fashioned No. 10, playing off a centre-forward. From an early age he was very intelligent in the way he made space for himself, the way he came off his marker and went deep to get the ball.

“You could see there was talent there. He was a very good player.

“We went to Berlin for a tournament with something like 64 teams. We were beaten on penalties in the semi-finals and he was probably one of the most outstanding players in the tournament.

“Leon Knight was in the same group. He was the one Chelsea really thought was going to come through but, even then, looking at both players you could see it was Croft really. He used his brain more.

“Leon was very small and quick and powerful, Crofty was not so quick but used his brain. He played like a Teddy Sheringham. He passed the ball well and from that age was very eager to learn.

“When you did a team talk he was transfixed. Everything you ever said Crofty took on board. There was no doubt in my mind that he would be a player.

“He has played for his country at under-21 level and been in the full squad. You can’t ask more than that of a young lad.

“He is one of those players you need. A lot of his work goes un-noticed, because he is covering for people, he fills in, he tackles, he heads. He is a workaholic and he wants to do well.”

Chivers had a brief spell at Swansea alongside the likes of Bob Latchford, Alan Curtis and Ray Kennedy, after they had been relegated from the old First Division.

He saw the Welshmen last season in his part-time media role and expects Crofts and his Albion colleagues to have their work cut out at the Liberty Stadium.

“They are going to be a tough side, especially at their place,” Chivers said. “The one thing about them in the Championship last season was that they played football, getting the ball down from the back.

“It will be interesting to see how they play under the new manager (Paulo Sousa), because Roberto Martinez insisted on every one of his players being able to play, including the centre-halves and fullbacks.

“I saw them a couple of times last season and I was really impressed by the way he thought about his tactics and the way they played. They lost 2-0 at Fulham (in the FA Cup) but completely outplayed them. He is going to be a tough act to follow but it is also a tough task for Albion going there.”

Chivers, 49, is a multi-tasker nowadays. He combines his media work for the Press Association, television company TWI and Chelsea TV with coaching at a school, and he also has a black cab license.

Will it be a taxi for Albion or Swansea tonight?