BRIGHTON ace Pascal Gross is "a role model of what you can reach", says Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl.

The pair worked together during Hasenhuttl's days as a manager of FC Ingolstadt between 2013 and 2016.

Gross played all 34 of Ingolstadt's matches as they won promotion from Bundesliga 2 in the 2014-15 season.

And midfielder earned a move to Brighton in 2017, and is set to come up against Hasenhuttl and Saints at Amex Stadium tomorrow evening.

"We don’t have much contact but I definitely follow what he does and I am happy he is playing again in a new position, sometimes in the six now," Hasenhuttl said of Gross.

"He was a most important player for me when I was in Ingolstadt.

"He was part of the successful story we had there and really I was happy at seeing his progress and his development, and the way he went here. He was a fantastic one, a successful one and a very long part of the Premier League.

"When he was in the second league with me nobody would think he could do this, but he is a role model of what you can reach if you really want to.

"He is mentally a really strong player. I liked to work with him, we had a very successful time together, and sometimes I think back and enjoy what we did there."

Gross netted from the penalty spot as Brighton drew 1-1 with champions Liverpool last time out.