Jayson Molumby made his Premier League debut on for Brighton at Villa on Saturday. 

But following his outstanding loan spell at Millwall last season, it probably wasn't how the 21-year-old midfielder would have envisaged it.

Following 40 appearances in his breakthrough season at senior level at The Den, Molumby appeared ready for topflight football after exceeding all expectations during his season-long loan in the capital.

However, his return to Brighton has been nothing short of frustrating. In an interview with the Irish Times back in August, the Republic of Ireland international admitted: "I was sitting around for long enough during quarantine, so I won't be doing it once the season starts.

"It's up to me to show the Brighton gaffer that I'm ready for the Premier League. It will be brilliant learning off the likes of Adam Lallana but I won't be spending the season playing nonsense matches like U23s. If the gaffer can't guarantee me involvement, I'll be straight back out on loan."

Although nothing materialised, Molumby added: "I'm sure Millwall would be an option."

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But Molumby's wishes certainly haven't been granted by Seagulls boss Graham Potter. The midfielder's 89th-minute outing in Saturday's win at Villa Park was his first in a Brighton shirt since starting in an EFL Cup tie against Manchester United almost two months earlier.

Molumby's only other appearance for The Amex outfit this term also came in the EFL Cup - their second-round victory over Portsmouth back in mid-September, meaning he's been on the pitch for just 172 minutes of Brighton's 12 competitive games this term, marginally less than 16 percent.

With the Seagulls in decent Premier League form, it doesn't appear likely that Molumby will get many more opportunities prior to the January transfer window - and if that remains the case, surely Millwall will come knocking once again.

Despite his lack of minutes, his time with the Lions certainly didn't harm his international chances - with Molumby already winning five caps for Ireland in recent months, one of which came as a late substitute against England at Wembley.