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Graham Potter planning to use Ben White in first-team plans next season

Ben White helped Leeds to promotion back to the Premier League.

Graham Potter expects defender Ben White to be part of Brighton's first team next season.

The 22-year-old played a key role in Leeds' promotion to the Premier League during a loan deal with the Sky Bet Championship club this term.

Hundreds of Leeds fans were filmed singing "Ben White, sign him up" as part of the celebrations outside Elland Road on Friday night after Huddersfield's win against West Brom secured the Whites' return to the top flight.

But Brighton boss Potter poured cold water on any hopes the Yorkshire club had of making his deal a permanent one.

"He's contracted with us and he's on loan at Leeds. He's our player," said Potter at a press conference on Saturday.

"It's fantastic he's had this year with Leeds. I think everybody won. Ben got some great experience, Leeds achieved their goal of promotion.

"But we rate him highly. I followed his career personally when he was at Newport and Peterborough.

"As I've said before, we were aware of him at Swansea, we were probably trying to sign him ourselves if we were still there.

"We like him a lot. He's a really good player and thankfully he's our player. (Next season) he'll be competing for a place like everyone else."

Brighton should be among Leeds' opponents in the top flight next year, with the Seagulls needing one more point to be mathematically safe.

But even defeats in their last two games at home to injury-hit Newcastle on Monday and away to Burnley next Sunday will likely see them survive, with Brighton six points clear of the relegation zone and enjoying a healthy advantage on goal difference from the teams below them.

However, Potter will not let his side go into the Newcastle game thinking they are safe.

He said: "The pressure is not off. We know we're in the fight. We've got six points to play for. We want to try and get as many points as we can.

"I don't think you can have that mentality (of playing for a point). I think it's a dangerous one.

"In the Premier League you've got to try and win the match. And then if you end up with a point, you end up with a point."

Potter confirmed Ezequiel Schelotto will not play for the club again.

The right-back started the 2-1 win over Arsenal last month but has not been part of the last four matchday squads.

"It was best for him, best for us," Potter said.

"We're well covered in that area. It was the right thing for us and him to make that decision a little bit before we had to, just because we had enough options and it gives him time to sort his future out."

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds26158348192953
2Burnley26141023192252
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd26166436171952
4Sunderland26148439221750
5Middlesbrough26118743321141
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom26913432211140
7Blackburn RoversBlackburn2511682823539
8Bristol City2691073330337
9Watford25114103536-137
10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2610793840-237
11Norwich CityNorwich269984337636
12Swansea CitySwansea2697103030034
13Queens Park RangersQPR2671182934-532
14Millwall257992423130
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16Coventry CityCoventry2678113437-329
17Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2577112840-1228
18Derby CountyDerby2676133135-427
19Stoke CityStoke2669112432-827
20Luton TownLuton2674152744-1725
21Portsmouth2458113041-1123
22Hull City2658132536-1123
23Cardiff CityCardiff2558122540-1523
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2548132453-2920


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