Brighton boss Hughton insists Elvis Manu has a future at the club

Brighton & Hove Albion coach Chris Hughton says Ghanaian striker Elvis Manu is part of his plans for the season.

Manu has taken long to acclimatize after joining the Championship side from Dutch giants Feyenoord Rotterdam last season.

He was loaned to Huddersfield Town in January but has returned to fight for a place in the team.

This season, Manu has managed just two appearances (only 28 minutes of football) but the manager says the 23-year-old still has a future at the club.

''He's in a better place than where he was last season - in terms of where we want him to be,'' Hughton said in a press conference.

''When he's not in the squad that's my choice on the positional preferences of the starting eleven, so he's there pushing and in a better place than this time last year.''