Deniz Undav admitted it has been extremely tough adapting to the Premier League but has every intention of battling for a regular spot in Roberto De Zerbi’s team.
The 26-year-old has made eight top-flight appearances for us as a substitute, amassing 93 minutes of playing time, although he marked his only start for the club with a goal in the 3-0 Carabao Cup second round win against Forest Green.
The forward said, "It's hard for me, especially when you come from a season in Belgium playing every game.
"But it's life, that's football. I'm a little bit disappointed, but I just try to be positive, to work hard, to be there for my team-mates and when I maybe get the chance to start again to be ready.
"It's now my third season as a professional really. I thought it would be hard [moving to the Premier League], but it's even harder than that.
"If I'm not playing from the start in the first six months or year it's nothing to be ashamed of. I'm trying to do something that's really hard. From Belgium to the Premier League is like five, six levels higher."
The break for the World Cup has given the German time to reflect and he wants to return to action in an Albion shirt with an even better mindset.
"It's an opportunity for me to be even more ready than before and, if I get the chance, to play. It's not the farmer's league, it's the best league in the world. I have to give everything now I know the league and maybe be even more ready than I was.
"In training, everyone's aggressive – really, really good. There's no time to relax in training or take the foot off the gas, so that's hard. The intensity is really, really hard.
"You have to get used to it at some point. Even when I've come on for a few minutes, it's always hard against the defenders. When you come on you think you are ready, but they don't care.
"They are 100 per cent ready. I may have to change my head, to work even harder. I think so far I'm disappointed, but I don't give up just because I'm not playing that much.
"I'll try to give everything for the team, so that if the coach picks me, I'll be ready.”