Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi says Solly March must maintain his rich vein of form for the club to achieve their ambitions this season.

The right-winger will become the club's first player to score in their first three matches in a top-flight campaign if he hits the target again against West Ham at the Amex today.

March scored twice at Wolves last Saturday to add to a goal on the opening day at home to Luton in successive 4-1 wins for De Zerbi's side.

He has ten goals and five assists in his last 19 Premier League starts.

De Zerbi said: "He has to keep scoring, because the season isn't finished. Three goals aren't enough for him and to change everything in his life, his career, his football history.

"The numbers are still important in football. Goals, assists, can change the career of players, can change the salary of the players, can change the history of the club.

"I've spoken about Solly and (Kaoru) Mitoma. If they score 15 goals (each) we can reach a big target, otherwise it's difficult."

Long-serving March had only scored four goals in 148 games before De Zerbi took charge last September.

The Italian said: "I didn't know so much about Solly, his habits, behaviour in the past. At the beginning of my time at Brighton I thought Solly was very important and a very big player.

"I don't know his history, but it's the same as Pascal Gross and Lewis Dunk. Sometimes I ask myself how come this player doesn't play for the big, big teams in England?

"Because I have a big, big confidence (in them). I am living with them this year and I know about their potential. Their potential is great, more than this level, but the secret of Brighton is not the coach or other things, the secret is the quality of the players.

"People don't know the level of these players so well, but I'm working with them and I know better than the people who are speaking about football."

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