Craig Mackail-Smith insists Sami Hyypia has already made a positive impression on the Albion squad.

New boss Hyypia launched his reign with a 5-0 win in the opening pre-season friendly at Lewes on Saturday.

Fit-again forward Mackail-Smith was among the scorers, netting within 56 seconds of being introduced as a half-time substitute.

The Scotland striker is still easing his way back from a ruptured Achilles which ruled him out for more than a year.

But he is already enjoying life under Hyypia, even though the players only started working with the new manager last Monday.

Mackail-Smith said: “It has been a good week. On the first day he told us how we are going to set up and how he wants us to play, what he expects of us. It was clear straightaway what he wanted.

“The boys have taken to everything. You can see from the game (at Lewes) what we were trying to do and how well at times we did that.

“It has only been five days and in a couple of weeks’ time we will have a better view of how he is putting it together and what more he wants from us.”

Hyypia showed on Saturday his calm touchline presence and Mackail-Smith likes that approach.

He added: “He has been great. He hasn’t come in and hammered people when they make mistakes. He says he doesn’t mind us making mistakes as long as we are trying the right things, which is what you want to hear.

“The boys are very relaxed around him. On the pitch they look comfortable on the ball and not panicking so we couldn’t ask for much more for his first five days of been in charge.”