Arron Davies was in an FA Cup final squad the last time he played for a South Coast club.

It would be stretching the imagination a bit to believe he could do the same with Albion but Davies is eager to re-establish himself over the coming months on his return to the region.

The Welsh midfielder, signed on loan from Nottingham Forest for the rest of the year, had a taste of the big time at the start of his career with Southampton.

Gordon Strachan was sufficiently impressed to include Cardiff-born Davies in his 20-man squad for the 2003 FA Cup final against Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium.

“I was having a good run in the reserves that season, scoring a lot of goals, and Gordon Strachan put me on the bench for the first team for a couple of games in the Premier League,” he said.

“I was in the squad for the final but didn’t make the bench. I was only 18, so it was a massive day out, especially as it was in Cardiff, and I got to warm up with the lads.”

Davies also travelled to Bucharest for a UEFA Cup tie. His career looked like taking off but he never actually made a first team appearance for Saints and, following a loan spell with Barnsley, was released once Harry Redknapp took charge.

“It was hard, as a young lad, to break through into a Premiership team,” Davies said. “There were changes of manager and I felt my career was standing still.

“I kept on doing well in the reserves but there was a lot of competition for places and I couldn’t really get into the first team.

“I had the opportunity to go to Yeovil and couldn’t turn it down. It was a good decision because I went on to do well for them.

“I’ve already had a few phone calls from my mates down in Southampton so it will be good to hook up with them at some point.

“I’ve spoken to Nathan Jones and he speaks highly about Brighton as a place, so hopefully I’ll get a little look around, but I am mainly here just to impress on the football side.”

Davies, 25, certainly did that at Yeovil, where former Seagull Jones is now assistant manager.

He helped them to the League two title in his first season and the League One play-offs in his last under Russell Slade before joining Forest in a combined £1.2million deal with team-mate Chris Cohen.

Small wonder then that Davies is pleased to be re-united with Albion chief Slade after failing to command a regular place at Forest.

“He is just a pleasure to work with,” Davies said. “He was a good man-manager at Yeovil and kept everyone happy.

“Obviously it helps when you are being successful and winning games but the good cameraderie came mainly through him.

“I am looking to get some games under my belt here. I spent the first couple of games this season on the bench at Forest and played in the Carling Cup but it’s been a bit frustrating.”

Davies’ contract with Forest is up at the end of this season and Albion tried to sign him permanently in the summer.

He is looking no further, for the time being, than his loan spell and helping the Seagulls climb the table in tandem with a Forest colleague, starting with tomorrow's home game against Wycombe.

“I am hoping to come down here and make an impression,” Davies said. “I am just thinking about the loan at the moment – you cannot look too far ahead in football.

“It’s a very competitive league, with big teams coming down. There are a lot of big games and I’m looking forward to it.

“I have spoken to Matt Thornhill and he said they’ve been a bit unlucky so far. It’s still early days but we need to get some points on the board and we are looking to do that on Saturday.”