TOMER HEMED has been given extra incentive to shine in the Premier League – by a flying armband.

The Israeli international looks to add to his goal tally at Bournemouth tomorrow after getting off the mark against West Brom.

Hemed is taking care of the thigh strain which ruled him out of international action in Italy nine days ago.

He admitted he felt some discomfort on Sunday after his impressive showing against the Baggies the previous afternoon.

But he has vowed to work as hard as possible – eyeing possible gains both for club and, as a welcome spin-off, country.

All is not well in Israel and their recent 1-0 defeat to Macedonia was rated one of the worst home results in their history.

Hemed did not start that one. He was introduced at the break, a move which was welcomed by fans.

But all the headlines were made by the man ahead of him in the pecking order, skipper Eran Zahavi.

The Guangzhou striker threw away the armband during the second half as his performance was jeered by many in a paltry attendance of 11,350.

That leaves a vacancy in attack which Hemed could seize if he is scoring and playing well in the Premier League.

He has generally been used as a second striker by his national team.

Hemed said: “There is a crisis in Israel, people don’t like the national team.

“The environment is not good.

“Less people come to the games, the results are no good, but we have to keep fighting.

“I would never go to the coach and ask him to play as a No.9.

“The coach will decide because I am not the type of player who goes to tell my coach where to play me.

“Maybe sometimes I don’t get the credit I deserve in the national team.”

Hemed will expect to be part of a grafting Albion display tomorrow night.

The Seagulls have decided the way to make an impact against Premier League teams is to work harder than them.

Hemed said: “All the players are speaking about it and we know that is the only way to win games in the Premier League.

“All the teams are good and work hard but for us, as a new team in the Premier League, we need to work harder and to be ready every game to give everything.

“Everyone saw we gave everything until the last minute (against West Brom).”

Hemed is part of all that for now, having decided as the summer window drew to a close that there was no way he was leaving.

He knows the same situation will come up again in January with Albion likely to continue their search for another striker.

Florin Andone, the man who seemed set to come and add his pace in behind on deadline night, started and scored for Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday.

The goal against Real Sociedad was not from a ball over the top, the means by which he terrified Real Madrid recently.

In fact it was a Hemed-type finish, showing good movement in the box to drift off his marker and latch on to a knock own before thumping home right-footed from close range.

But, whoever comes in mid-season, Hemed hopes by then to have built up an impressive collection of Premier League goals and performances.

He said: “If I’m good, there is no reason to leave. And I don’t think that will change in January. I think they will bring in another forward but it will be okay. There are a lot of games until then.”