Albion's new Spanish defender is ready for anything in English football after surviving a potential battering at Stoke.

Right-back Bruno Saltor Grau – known simply as Bruno in the footballing world – is on board at The Amex for two years after running out of contract with Valencia.

He has turned down offers from within and outside Spain, one of which is believed to have come from Ajax.

Bruno, a physically strong full-back, has experience against Premier League and Championship sides, including two starts against muscular Stoke in the Europa League last season.

He said: “The style here is different – although playing against Manchester City wasn’t that different.

“Stoke was the most different but we decided beforehand the most important thing was to show character.

“If you have a form of playing, then you apply that.

“We started from the back, we passed and got forward like that and overcame them.

“I’ve spoken to Vicente and he said football here is more physical. But in the end it’s football. It’s a ball. You’ve got to play.”

Bruno admits he enjoys going forward when possible but is very much a defence-first full-back.

He added: “It’s the full-backs who surprise teams.

“The idea of football is changing. People these days notice Dani Alves and people like that.

“It is important to get forward and I like getting forward.

“But I believe the fundamental thing for a full-back is to defend.”