ALBION’S record signing Jose Izquierdo has been told he will get better in the Premier League.

The £13.5 million Colombian left-winger was handed his full debut by Chris Hughton in yesterday’s 2-0 defeat at Arsenal.

Izquierdo took the place of Anthony Knockaert, forming a new partnership with Gaetan Bong who made his first start of the season at left-back.

Hughton told The Argus: “I decided to go with Gaetan. He’s been training very well. Him and Markus are different type of players. It was a good opportunity for Gaetan – I knew we’d be defending for periods.

“With Izquierdo it was an opportunity to play him. I knew we would have to be bright on the counter and he’s got very good pace.

“There’s always that balance that yes, he is short because he hasn’t played, but how does he get up to speed and you’ve got to pick the right games to play him in.

“I thought there were good aspects of his game, where he can break very quickly, but he’ll certainly be better.

“If anything it was a tough game to come into if you are one of the wide players.”

Last season’s star man Knockaert has revealed he is struggling to cope with the death of his father, Patrick, last November and will seek counselling.

Hughton said of the Frenchman’s demotion to the bench: “It was more tactical. Anthony has been really good around the place.

“What probably didn’t help is that he missed almost four weeks of pre-season (ankle injury), so he’s a little bit behind.

“Overall since then his contribution has been good. The difference with Anthony or Solly March or Jamie Murphy or Izquierdo is you are up against better teams and better ful-backs, so it is going to be a tougher season for him than it was last season.”