Brighton fans will be expecting big things next season after their surprisingly successful campaign last season which saw them narrowly miss out on promotion.

Hughton built the side on a shoestring budget after they had barely survived the season before, with additions like Gaetan Bong and Connor Goldson bolstering the defence.

Hughton also strengthened the attack by adding winger Jamie Murphy and striker Tomer Hemed.

The side began the season in fine form going on a 21 game unbeaten run before being humbled by Middlesbrough, but after going 6 games without a win they got back on track.

Wingers Jiri Skalak and Anthony Knockaert were added plus striker James Wilson and Brighton finished strong missing out on automatic promotion by 1 point before losing to Sheffield Wednesday in the playoffs.

Still, an excellent season to build upon and Hughton will be keen to add some depth in strikers with Hemed alone and maybe more at full back. 4-2-3-1 is the formation that suits the team best and here is how they could line up for the opening game next season.

GK - David Stockdale

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The 30 year old Englishman was a model of consistency for Brighton all season and has been there first choice goalkeeper for the last 2 seasons.

He played every Championship game last season and Brighton only conceded 42 goals with Stockdale pulling off some fine saves including a brilliant one at home to Bolton which sparked a comeback.

Stockdale kept 17 clean sheets and organized his defensive four very well.

He is a crucial player for Brighton and will be the first name on the team sheet next season.

LB - Gaetan Bong

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The 28-year-old left back from Cameroon joined Brighton from relegated Wigan in the summer and started the season very well.

Bong was outstanding at left back rampaging forward at every opportunity and was excellent defensively, fans say he built up a telepathic understanding with left sided winger Kazenga LuaLua who also started the season well.

With Bong playing Brighton went undefeated until Bong was injured in late October for three months.

The injury kept re-occurring throughout the season and his replacement Rosenior was not as consistent and Brighton fans will hope he can stay fit for next season.

CB - Lewis Dunk

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Dunk towers over most players standing well over 6 feet tall and is one of the best centre backs in the league.

He is extremely dangerous from set pieces and is excellent in the air whether attacking the ball or defending. He scored 4 times this season and helped Brighton keep 17 clean sheets as they conceded 42 goals being one of the biggest parts of their 21 game unbeaten streak.

He formed a formidable partnership with Connor Goldson which got stronger throughout the season and despite interest from Fulham at the start of the season and Crystal Palace, now he looks set to remain loyal.

CB - Connor Goldson

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Goldson is an excellent young talent and was brought in at the start of the season from Shrewsbury after helping them win promotion to League One, being named in the Team of the Year and winning Player of the Year.

He made the step up to Championship football comfortably putting in some great performances which put him above Gordon Greer in the pecking order.

His partnership with Lewis Dunk was outstanding and the 23-year-old is the same height as Dunk making him just as dangerous from set pieces.

He will get better with every passing week and defensively was better than Dunk last season and Brighton fans will look forward to that partnership progressing next season.

RB - Bruno Saltor

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Bruno may be 35 but he was absolutely outstanding at right back last season earning plaudits from fans and neutrals alike.

His link up play down the flank with Skalak was outstanding with his work rate and passing accuracy unbelievable. Not many players crossed more balls into the box than Bruno and he was the top performing right back in the league last season being named in the PFA Team of the Year.

The only Brighton player to achieve this and he followed this up by finishing second in the Brighton Player of the Year vote behind Beram Kayal.

He is of course experienced and deserves another season at the very least.

CM - Dale Stephens

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Stephens was one of the best midfielders in the league last season with the 26-year-old starting nearly every game last season after a couple of seasons of sporadic appearances.

But Hughton utilised him well and Stephens became very important to his plans breaking up play in the middle of the park and sparking attacks.

He also became a goal scorer and finished with 7 goals making him the third highest scorer for Brighton.

But his biggest contribution was his integral partnership with Beram Kayal in midfield which saw them go 21 games unbeaten and nearly led them to the title, Brighton must keep them together next season with Steve Sidwell as cover.

CM - Beram Kayal

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Kayal was also an integral part of Brighton's promotion bid playing a big part alongside Stephens in midfield.

His passing and vision was second to none and his skills in that area were some of the best in the Championship and protected the defence more than Stephens did.

Stephens got more recognition in the Player of the Year PFA votes but it was Kayal who won Brighton Player of the Year and fans felt he was ignored by the Football League for his excellent performances.

He has adapted to a box to box midfielder role where he protects the defence but also gets forward to support the forwards which is something Stephens can't do.

He is vital to Brighton's chances of challenging next season.

LM - Lucas Piazon

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The Brazilian youngster is currently in the youth setup at Chelsea and Chelsea have a good system of loaning out youth players to the Championship.

This has been majorly beneficial too players like Nathaniel Chalobah and Patrick Bamford. Brighton could do with some more depth on that side with LuaLua and Murphy inconsistent and the Brazilian youngster has the pace and skill to fill the role perfectly.

After scoring bucket loads for Vitesse in the Eredivisie he was at Championship Reading last season scoring 5 goals in 22 games impressing the fans.

CAM - Alex Pritchard

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The Tottenham man is an excellent prospect but a bad injury last season hampered his development hurt his chances of making it into the Tottenham side.

With Tottenham full of world class talent now and going for the title they may not be able to give Pritchard the games he wants.

He can get first team football in the Championship and the 23-year-old proved he was lethal at this level a couple of seasons ago with Brentford scoring 12 goals, being deadly from free kicks and making the Team of the Year.

He has international experience at youth level for England and could be just what Brighton need behind the striker.

RM - Anthony Knockaert

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It was quite the coup for Brighton when they signed the French winger from Standard Liege in the January transfer window as their bid for automatic promotion continued.

He played two seasons in the Championship for Leicester and even though he is best known for a missed penalty against Watford in the playoffs, overall his dazzling attacking play makes him lethal at this level.

He scored 5 goals in 16 games for Leicester and when given a full season will easily reach double figures and provide excellent service for the front man Hemed.

His main attributes are his pace and skill making him a nightmare for any full back in this league.

ST - Tomer Hemed

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The Israeli forward was the man Brighton fans believe could finally replace Leanardo Ulloa who was sold to Leicester. Hemed played as a lone striker last season with assistance by Zamora and Baldock.

Hemed was in brilliant form scoring 16 goals in 40 games scoring some vital last minute goals and was sorely missed when injured.

With those 3 midfielders providing him service he would easily score 20 plus and be one of the top scorers in the league.

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