Kazenga LuaLua is in a race against time to be fit to face his former club Newcastle United tomorrow.
The 21-year-old winger has been struggling with a hamstring for the past three weeks which could hamper his chances of facing his former club.
LuaLua told seagulls.co.uk, "I've been running a lot alongside Craig Noone so hopefully we won't get any reaction from training with the team, ahead of the weekend. I haven't trained with the squad since I got injured against Wrexham at the Amex but I feel confident that I will be ready.
"I have been looking forward to this since the game against Wrexham last week and it would mean a lot to me to play because Newcastle has been the club that I have been at since I was very young.
"My sister, brother and cousin are all coming down tonight for the game so hopefully I won't have any reaction. It should be a decent game whatever happens."
LuaLua joined Newcastle as an 11-year-old before signing a permanent three-year deal with Albion in November. He has been impressed with the way his former club have climbed the Premier League table this season, citing the impact made by manager Alan Pardew.
"I've seen them passing the ball around a lot this season and that is down to Alan Pardew because he has done a lot to the squad since he's been there. They are trying to play football which is a reason they've done so well, so it will be a good game. Steve Harper would have seen a lot of us when he was here on loan so I'm sure that he will give them some information.
"It's also amazing to play in the FA Cup. My best memory of the Cup was when I came on for Newcastle at Stoke to make my debut. That was the first real long spell that I played for them because I normally came on for a few minutes; this time I came on for about 25 minutes when Sam Allardyce was in charge, so that was nice of him."
LuaLua also highlighted his affection for his former club but admitted that switching to Albion on a permanent deal was one of his easier footballing decisions.
"Although I love the club it was easy for me to leave. I had been there for many years but I never really got close to the first team. I had to make a decision about what was best for my career and moving to Brighton was an easy decision.
"If I'm honest I did feel that I deserved more chances but every manager has their own options, so there was not much more I could do. I felt like I tried everything I could but I'm a Brighton player now and I'm happy to be here."
Meanwhile, he has backed the Seagulls to reach the heights of the Magpies, currently sitting sixth in the top flight, but insists it will take time.
"This club has the potential to get to where Newcastle are. The way that this club is going anything could happen but we are taking it slowly. Brighton will be in the Premier League, but we don't know when that will happen."
