Hit by injuries and the prospect of losing key players on international duty in January, boss Roberto De Zerbi cut short the 21-year-old’s nearly four-month spell at the struggling League One club with immediate effect.

Already without injured wide attackers Ansu Fati and Solly March, Kaoru Mitoma is heading off to represent Japan at the Asian Cup next month whilst Simon Adingra will be joining Ivory Coast in the African Cup of Nations.

All of which leaves De Zerbi with few options from wide positions, hence the decision to send an SOS to Peupion, which made his Premier League bow off the bench against Newcastle United at St James’ Park at the back end of last season.

With the injuries and absences piling up at the Amex, it’s possible the former Sydney FC junior could feature against West Ham United at the London Stadium on January 3 and Stoke City in the FA Cup three days later.

Brighton sit ninth in the EPL standings and have reached the knock out stage of the UEFA Europa League.

Things didn’t quite go to plan at Cheltenham, rooted to the foot of the table with just 13 points from 20 games, and already onto their second coach of the season.

Peupion, who suffered some injury niggles, made just six appearances and didn’t appear to fit into new boss Darrell Clarke’s system, despite his undoubted potential.

He will welcome the return to the south coast where De Zerbi has made it plain he rates the pacy winger whose stunning goal against Tajikistan in September helped nudge the Olyroos further down the path to the Paris Games by ensuring qualification for April’s U-23 Asian Cup in Qatar.

Peupion makes his return on Thursday for Brighton's U-21s against Lyon in the Premier League International Cup.