Tariq Lamptey interview: Brighton player on World Cup memories, facing Kaoru Mitoma and his ambitions to improve | Football News

« I think I could see it sneaking in, » laughs Tariq Lamptey. He is describing the long-range strike deflected into the net by Lewis Dunk in Brighton’s FA Cup win over Liverpool. « The skip helped me out with a touch. If you can’t get the goal, the assist isn’t bad. »

These are not bad times at Brighton and Hove Albion and Lamptey is enjoying his football again. It is two-and-a-half years now since he first lit up the Premier League and though injury disrupted his progress he is ready to shine again under Roberto De Zerbi.

« I feel like I am in good shape, » he tells Sky Sports. « After coming back from the World Cup, I am just trying to build on that with the manager. I am trying to work as hard as I can in training, listening to what he is telling us and bringing that out on the pitch. »

Lamptey is 22 now, still wide-eyed and smiling but with a growing body of work behind him – as that reference to his World Cup winter suggests. He made his debut for Ghana against Brazil in September and went on to make two appearances in Qatar.

« To be honest, I just tried to soak in the whole experience. As a little boy you dream of playing in a World Cup. I am grateful to God for the opportunity. Before the games you are thinking, I am actually playing in a World Cup here. It was amazing. You are so excited.

« My parents were born in Ghana so it was a proud moment for the whole family. My dad and my brother were in the crowd so I got to see them after a couple of the games. I would like to have got further and got out of the group but hopefully that is for the future. »

He was impressed by star man Mohamed Kudus and is expecting big things from Kamaldeen Sulemana, Southampton’s record signing. « He is tricky and he has got some skills. He should have a good time over here. I am looking forward to playing against him. »

Lamptey is certainly used to being tested in training. He has the dubious honour of facing Brighton’s flying winger Kaoru Mitoma on a daily basis. « He is an amazing player. I am not going to give away any tips on how to stop him but he is really good. »

Mitoma, now famously, did his university thesis in his native Japan on the art of dribbling. The pair have not discussed the details yet. « I need to give him a nudge and ask him about that. » But Lamptey takes lessons from nobody in one-on-one situations.

« I would definitely back myself for pace, » he says. « But the thing about the Premier League is that every week there is a different challenge. You come up against different types of opponent. That is what makes it so great because you are developing every week. »

His toughest opponent so far? He names two. « I would say Sadio Mane and Marcus Rashford are the two best that I have faced in the Premier League. They are just great players. » But Lamptey’s role is evolving and he is trying to pose problems of his own.

Often a wing-back under De Zerbi, the heatmaps show that the majority of Lamptey’s involvement now comes in the opposition half. « I don’t know if that is because we maybe have a bit more of the ball in the attacking third, » he says, examining the graphic.

« The modern full-back is expected to do the job defensively but also help the team attack. That is perfect for me because I love doing my defensive duties, I love challenging myself one-on-one against some of the best players in the Premier League, but I also like helping the team going forward, joining in attacks, getting assists and goals. Both sides are important and I can do both so it suits my game well. »

His skillset is being tested under De Zerbi, the Italian coach who has won admirers for building on the work of Graham Potter. « Just this season at Brighton I have played right-back, left-back and on the wing. Wherever the manager sees me I will do it, » he says.

« It is different, to be fair, but I scored on the left this season so it is not bad, » he adds, referring to his goal against Arsenal in November. « I played a number of positions at Chelsea. I played midfield in my youth. I am just happy to be playing, to be honest. »

Lamptey has been following the intriguing use of Rico Lewis in the midfield for Manchester City. « I think there are times this season when we have done things like that as well. In football, you always have to be watching and learning, being adaptable. »

That is essential at Brighton, where players have come to expect the unexpected, the club becoming a magnet for relative unknowns to emerge as future stars. Whether it is a winger from Japan or a midfielder from Ecuador, Lamptey always tries to have an open mind.

« I just think that in football, especially for me, growing up in the youth system at Chelsea, you see so many good players. So I am not really surprised when I see someone come in. I always believe in the principle that this person has worked really hard to be here and they deserve to be here. I just look forward to seeing what they can do. »

What Brighton can do is the big question now. For now, they are pushing for a finish among the Premier League elite and chasing glory in the FA Cup. « It is going well for us, we are in a really good position, and we are just looking to build on that now, » he explains.

« We just need to keep progressing. It is great when you are winning but we cannot get carried away. We do have a really good squad, a mixture of younger and senior players, and that helps us to navigate situations. The club as a whole is a really good place to be.

« As for me, I am just trying to become the player I know I can be. I feel like this is just the start. Hopefully, I can build on this and keep getting better and better. I want to get as many games as I can and contribute. When the team needs me I will be ready. »

Tariq Lamptey wears the new adidas X Speedportal, available from www.adidas.co.uk/football-shoes