Thursday 2 November 2017 15:40, UK
Chris Hughton has admitted that Brighton did want to sign Tammy Abraham in the summer, but says he isn’t frustrated about missing out on his signature.
Abraham was named in Gareth Southgate's squad for the first time on Thursday, and Hughton says the 20-year-old deserves credit for his call-up.
Swansea forward Abraham is on a season-long loan from Chelsea, and has scored five goals in thirteen appearances for his new club.
Several clubs were linked with Abraham in the summer, and Hughton - speaking before his side travel to play Abraham's Swansea - has confirmed that Brighton were one of them.
He said: "Yes, we did have an interest in him but these things happen. It's not frustrating. We were not the only club that had an interest in him.
"What you do want to see is young players doing well, although we don't particularly want to see him doing well on Saturday.
"He's had an opportunity, played games, and obviously shown enough to get a first call-up. Credit to him."
Brighton ultimately failed to sign a striker in the summer transfer window, but Hughton is pleased with the way the strikers at his disposal have stepped up.
He said: "Tomer Hemed started the season well, then got banned for three games. Glenn Murray had time out injured, but he's now taken his opportunity very well.
"That's the way the game is. Whether it's because of circumstances or an injury, someone will always get an opportunity."
Brighton failed to see any of their players named in the latest England squad, despite the likes of Lewis Dunk and Solly March receiving praise for their performances since promotion to the Premier League.
Hughton said: "I'm not Gareth Southgate, and he's got a very difficult job. We have players here that have developed really well in my time here.
"They've [Dunk and March] performed very well for us this season, but not only those two. Anybody that aspires to do well at international level, it's about how they do at club level first."
