Jed Wallace used to go to great lengths to get to Brighton for a game of football.

Now the Millwall wideman hopes to dampen growing FA Cup excitement in the city – by helping beat Albion in the last eight.

Wallace could be a key man for the Lions.

He might have signed for Albion at one stage early in his career and is fondly remembered at Whitehawk as a man who helped fill their main stand.

Wallace had a brief stint at Lewes and then a loan period with Hawks in the 2012-13 season as he strove to make his way in the pro ranks at Portsmouth.

Darren Freeman, his Whitehawk manager at the time, recalled: “I think that was the start of everything for him.

“He went from strength to strength after playing for us.

“As soon as I saw him play, I knew he was destined to go higher – probably higher than he is now.

“His attitude was unbelievable.

“He came to us and within a few weeks we had scouts sitting in the ground left, right and centre.

“I remember one time we were playing a League Cup tie in midweek.

“We were doing really well in the league and I really wanted to rest players that night.

“Jed was doing a four-hour round trip to play for us so I told him to rest.

“But he was begging me to play, he had so much hunger.

“Another time he called in and said he was caught up in a pile-up.

“I told him to turn back and forget about it but he was determined to get through the traffic and get to the ground.

“It was a crazy time for him because he went from putting on a Whitehawk shirt to putting on an England shirt.”

That international recognition came with England under-19s.

By the time he returned to Pompey, they were heading for the drop.

But that gave him the platform to play a starring role in League Two.

Albion offered Pompey what was described as “a modest five-figure fee” in January, 2013 and were expected to go back in that summer.

But it appears another, improved, bid was never forthcoming.

Wallace went on to play for Wolves in the Championship but was twice loaned out to Millwall.

He is now in the second season of a three-year deal at The Den and striving to help the Lions stay up.

Still only 24, there is time for him to make further progress.

Freeman said: “Part of football is luck. Maybe it comes down to that.

“I think he has the ability to play higher.

“He has got all the right attributes and a fabulous attitude.”