Markus Suttner was part of a landmark Albion occasion when he played against Manchester City at the Amex.

Now he hopes to return before long to his former home stadium – and get some tips off the pitch.

The Austrian left-back started when the newly-promoted Seagulls kicked off their Premier League era at home to City in August 2017.

A 70th-minute goal by Sergio Aguero saw City towards a 2-0 win against a very well-organised home side.

Prem life never really worked out for Suttner, who headed to Dusseldorf on loan in the following campaign.

But that game remains a special one in his memory and lessons from his time in England have served him well.

Maty Ryan, Davy Propper, Izzy Brown and Pascal Gross also made Albion debuts that day while Bruno, Shane Duffy, Lewis Dunk, Dale Stephens, Solly March and Tomer Hemed were stepping up from the Championship.

Anthony Knockaert and Glenn Murray were both on the bench.

Suttner said: “There was a team of guys who came up to the league and a few who were new.

“It was a good pre-season. We felt comfortable.

“Of course, the game wasn’t the best result but it was a great experience for me.

“I was 30 years old but it was a new challenge and an amazing feeling to play in the Premier League.

“Of course, we wanted to get the first points but it was Man City.

“I think we defended very well as a team.

“For most of us, it was a first Premier League game.

“You know the quality of Man City and they deserved to win.

“But, if we had been a little bit luckier, it would also have been possible to get a point.

“After the game it was not the worst disappointment.

“For me it was a big step to be there and in the first XI.”

Suttner played 17 games for Albion that season but went on to lose the left-back spot to the more athletic Gaetan Bong.

He said: “I knew my strengths and weaknesses and perhaps, in the end, the type of play in the Premier League doesn’t fit me that well.

“I had a great year in England.

“I think also I had my good games. I had one or two assists and I had chance to get more.

“It didn’t work in that way but it will always be a special place because also my son (Theo) was born in Brighton.

“It was a lot different style of play, more physical.

“It was a different tactical way to play than in Germany.

“There were so many things you take from it as a player and a person.

“When you come to a different league with a different language, you always have to adapt and build up your new life there.

“With the neighbours, with friends, with team-mates, with the club.

“You see how people in that country think about football and it made me a better player.

“I got experience against the best players.

“It also helped me in the next stage of my career to teach the young players how the Premier League works, how the German Bundesliga works.”

Suttner came up against David Silva and Bernardo Silva on that demanding debut.

He said: “It’s nice now to watch Brighton matches on TV and see Pascal and Dunky and Solly.

“They have been on the transformation to a European club and it’s nice to see.

“I was there with Graham Potter in his first pre-season and saw how we worked.

“It’s not a big surprise how they have grown.

“Of course, after so long outside the Premier League, you have to settle in and find your place.

“But the owner and everybody made the right decisions and, when I get chance, I watch games.”

Suttner could yet get a few handy tips from Albion in his new role.

He works for Austria Vienna, where he played later in his career, in sponsorship and marketing and is studying for a master’s in business administration.

He said: "I’m there for the sponsors and investors and helping to build the club.

“I want to visit all my former clubs so of course I will come to Brighton to watch games and talk to people there about how they work in these positions.”

HOW THEY LINED UP IN AUGUST, 2017.

Albion: Ryan; Bruno, Duffy, Dunk, Suttner; Stephens, Propper; March, Gross, Brown; Hemed: Subs used: Knockaert, Murphy, Murray.

Man City: Ederson; Walker, Kompany, Stones, Otamendi, Danilo; Fernandinho, David Silva, De Bruyne; Gabriel Jesus, Aguero. Subs used: Sterling, Sane, Bernardo Silva.