Ezequiel Schelotto is feeling a bit more at home after a first Premier League start at right-back.

But the Italo-Argentinean brought in from Lisbon in the summer reckons there is some way to go yet as he adapts to a new life on various levels.

Schelotto galloped forward in support of Anthony Knockaert during Albion’s 2-0 defeat by Tottenham on Wednesday.

Then he spoke about the challenges of coming to England, adapting to life, trying to avoid a relegation battle – and a rather testing full league debut on the right wing at Huddersfield.

Schelotto has had to wait for his chance and says he is competing with “an idol” in skipper Bruno.

But, as he left Wembley clutching the Spurs shirt of compatriot Erik Lamela, the former Inter and Sporting Club of Portugal man felt he had taken a few steps forward.

He told The Argus: “I was very happy. I had been working for a long time with my new team-mates trying to adapt myself to the manager’s system.

The Argus:

“I felt very confident. I was playing in my position, the one I’ve always played. Game after game, things are going to improve.

“The main feeling I have on a personal level (from the Tottenham game) is a very positive one. For the team, obviously we were very sad about defeat.

“But there is still a lot of the season left and I hope to bring a lot to help Brighton reach its target, which is staying in the Premier League.”

Schelotto was badly caught out by Heung-Min Son in the very first minute at Wembley but got away with it.

Of course, like Albion’s other defenders, there were moments when he was stretched and beaten.

On one first-half occasion he failed to cut out a pass and let it through to Danny Rose – but then had the agility to get back, step across Rose and shield the ball out for a goal kick.

There was a timely deflection of a goalbound Rose shot in the second half – and work going forward in unison with Knockaert.

He said: “I did some good things. I thought I had a very good understanding with Anthony. We did some good things together.

“It is a long time since I played 90 minutes. Now it’s about rest because we have a very important home game.”

When Schelotto signed, Chris Hughton was asked by The Argus whether he had some plan to use him with Bruno.

On the face of it, the signing opened the tactical Plan B of Albion going three at the back with Bruno as a right-sided centre-back and Schelotto as wing-back, especially as Markus Suttner, who was starting on the left at the time, has played a lot of football at wing-back.

No, Hughton replied. Schelotto was on board as competition for the right-back berth.

As happened when Liam Rosenior came in more than two years ago, Bruno responded to the challenge.

Schelotto said: “We all want to play, no one wants to be left out.

“I came here with a lot of humility, I didn’t come to rob anyone of their place in the team. But, equally, nobody has their place guaranteed.

“Bruno is the captain, he will always be the captain. He is an idol here, He has been here for six years.

“I just try to copy the best bits of everyone. Bruno is an example to follow.

“I’ve been here three months without playing but the idea has always been to help the team.

“In life you never know what is coming.

"I’m very happy in the city, I’ve been welcomed with open arms.

“My wife and my son are very happy. Things are good in my personal life.”

As he chatted in the Wembley tunnel area, The Argus asked Schelotto whether there have been times when he questioned whether he had made…

“…the right choice?” he said, anticipating the end of the question.

“There are good and bad moments but, as a player you always try and keep a calm head, be serene.

“Sometimes you get home from training and you ask ‘Why aren’t I playing?’ But it’s circumstances, it’s moments.

“At that moment the manager tells you that you are playing you have to make the most if it. I think I did it as well as I could.

The Argus:

Ezequiel Schelotto played in the Chckatrade Trophy fixture at Stevenage

“Of course there were some errors which I will have to correct.

“I’ve been here for three months and I’ve always tried to do my best in training and show I’m capable of playing from the first minute.”

Huddersfield was an eye-opener. Employed on the right of midfield, Schelotto never really got into the game and was taken off at half-time.

He said: “The Huddersfield game was very difficult because I was playing in a position which isn’t really mine. I didn’t produce what I normally do.

“I like playing at full-back because you can see the pitch ahead of you from back to front.

“On Wednesday I felt I could make the most of my characteristics as a player, which are speed and the ability to do some moves with Anthony.

“The previous game wasn’t my position, this was and it’s where I hope to keep playing.

“We could have taken a point. We had chances, obviously Tottenham had more.

“There was a moment when we thought we could get a goal and a good result. They scored two very stupid goals.

“We need to do all we can to get a good result at home.”

The necessity being that Albion are dropping closer to the bottom three.

A run like this was always going to happen. It is when cool heads, people who have been in such situations before, are needed.

The Argus:

Schelotto arrives at Albion during the summer window. Picture by Geoff Penn

On the face of it, Schelotto has little such experience although he was part of a Sassuolo side who only just stayed up in 2013-14.

He admitted: “Inter and Sporting are teams who fight to win the league, to reach the Champions League. This is another reality now.

“I am happy with the decision I made to come and play in the most important league in the world. With my style, I think I suit this league. I played for two big clubs.

“But before, as a young player, I went to Italy and played for Cesena in the third division. We went up to Serie B, then from Serie B to Serie A and it all happened very quickly.

“I was 21 playing my first match in Serie A against Roma in the Olimpico (a 0-0 draw – Cesena were top after three games but then slid down the table).

“So I’ve played for a team fighting to stay up. I’ve had ten years in Europe and I’m happy in my career here.”