His goal figures for Albion are better than Mesut Ozil for Arsenal but Pascal Gross puts the team before personal glory

That is an indication of the impact Albion's German No.10 has made in his debut season in English football.

Gross has played a part in almost half of Albion's 28 goals, scoring five himself and providing eight for others in 31 appearances.

That compares favourably with World Cup winner Ozil's four goals and eight assists in 28 appearances for Arsenal (below).

Gross laughs about the comparison. "Of course it's nice to hear sometimes stats like that," he said.

"If we stay up I am very happy with my first season. When you come you don't expect that it will go so well.

"I know I can create chances and assist goals, that's my big strength.

"You never know how it goes here but I'm very pleased. If the season finishes with us staying up I'll be very happy with my first year - and also with the stats."

Gross is sure to feature prominently in the planning by his former youth team coach for Huddersfield's key visit to the Amex tomorrow, although Wagner may not remember him that well.

Gross said: "When I played in the under-17s at Hoffenheim he was under-19s coach and I trained sometimes with the under-19s so I had some training sessions with him.

"He liked to press the other team, to make pressure on the defenders, on everybody, to force mistakes.

"That high intensity game, I think that's what he likes. That's his style of football and they (Huddersfield) play it also."

German influences abound in the clash between two of the promoted teams which could have a major bearing on whether one or both survive.

Together with Albion colleague Markus Suttner, Huddersfield duo Colin Quaner and Florent Hadergjonaj were with Gross at Ingolstadt.

"I'm familiar with them – it will be nice to see them," Gross said. "I lived with Colin and myself and Florent lived in the same street, so we were close at the time at Inglostadt.

"He (Quaner) is very fast, tall, a big lad, very hard-working, very disciplined. I think he is a very good team player."

Quaner (below left) is in contention to be the right-sided replacement for the injured Elias Kachunga, another ex-Ingolstadt link to Gross.

"We were also together," he said. "It was not the best season for him but it was a perfect change to go to Huddersfield.

"I hope he gets well soon. I don't wish an injury on anybody.

"For me it doesn't matter where we are from. We understand each other quite well, certainly Colin, Florent and me.

"We have a game at home at the Amex, a Premier League game, and we want to win it.

"We want to give everything for our fans to get the points, that's what I am thinking about."

All of Albion's signings from top leagues throughout Europe have contributed to the quest to stay up. Gross (below centre) has led the way and he believes arriving first made a difference.

"For me I was happy to make an early decision where I was playing," he said. "Especially when I was changing country and a new culture, to settle down, find a house, all that stuff.

"I had a lot of time to organise that and concentrate on my football. My style of football, when you are assisting or creating chances, you have to understand your team-mates, the striker, midfielders, the wingers, to know how they play, how they make their runs, what they are used to.

"So it's good. Every training (session) helps you, makes you better. That was good for me. I had the time and the pre-season games to build a relationship with my team-mates.

"I wished it would go like this but you can't expect it in the first year. Different country, different style, tougher, harder maybe. You have to improve fast.

"You don't have the time. For us every game is important, every game we have to fight for points so I have to improve fast. I think that's what I have done and that is maybe the best thing this year."

Gross's accomplished introduction will count for nothing after relegation from the Bundesliga with Ingolstadt last season if Albion go down as well.

"Yes, because that is also my style of playing football. I work very hard, I'm a team player and it's a team sport," he said.

"First of all I think about what we want to achieve as a team and then, if we achieve it, the individual can come."