Jan Mlakar has been in red hot form since Sasa Gajser took over the reins at NK Maribor.
The former Gent midfielder has been caretaker boss for three matches, in which Mlakar has fired in three goals.
Mlakar joined Maribor on a season long loan in August, having signed for Albion from there at the end of the 2018/19 campaign.
Second in the Slovenian Premier League, Maribor have changed managers twice this season and recently appointed a new sporting director, with the changes coinciding with Mlakar's resurgence in form.
“There are new things being put in place at the club. I am progressing well at the moment, during the winter break we had a training camp in Turkey that was affected by COVID-19 which slowed things down. But I am feeling better every day and my performances have improved off the back of that.
“I have scored three goals in three games since the new manager took over including two in his first game. He has been at the club for ten years as a coach and so I know him well. he knows what I am about and what I am capable of. He’s good to play under.
“I have been happy with my performances over the last five games, but over the course of the season I haven’t always been at my best.”
The 22-year-old puts his stop-start form down to COVID-19 related problems at the club as well as injuries, but believes that Maribor can now focus on retaining their league title, as they sit two points off top spot.
“I have improved all aspects of my game this season. I had a few issues at the beginning of the season with my injury, but I am focused on my football now. Of course I want to score goals, but I want to offer the team more than that in games.
“As a team get on really well. We’re a tight group. I know a lot of the players from the last time I played here. We are working hard to get back to the top of the table.
“We haven’t performed as well as we have wanted because of off the field problems, we have missed a lot of training days so the league is a lot tighter, but we still see it as we’re in control. We want to get back to playing how we know we can play.”