Chris Hughton has his say on Richie Towell’s debut for Brighton

Chris Hughton was impressed with his new player.

Richie Towell made his debut for Brighton and Hove Albion yesterday. The former Dundalk midfielder, who scored an incredible 29 goals for the Irish double winners last year, played 90 minutes for the Seagulls in the 1-0 loss away to Hull City in the FA Cup. Towell joined the Championship side in November, and Hughton was impressed his first showing, as well as his attitude in training. "Richie Towell played 90 minutes and coped very well," the former Republic of Ireland international told Brighton's official website."The last 90 minutes he played was back in November in the Irish Cup Final and he has been training very hard to be ready for now." Towell's good weekend continued when he was named The Irish Soccer Writer's Personality of the Year for 2015. "I'd like to thank, first of all, the Soccer Writers' Association members who voted for me, the 24 year old said. "I'd also like to thank the backroom staff at Dundalk and all the players, because without them I wouldn't have been able to win the award. "I'm very honoured to have won."