Diego Coppola getting a taste of English football

But he is keen for more after 90 minutes at Barnsley and a late role against Spurs.

The summer signing rom Hellas Verona went on late in the Premier League game to make up a back three.

Well, a back five if we are being totally honest, although Ferdi Kadioglu tried to get forward on the left.

He started in a back four at Barnsley although that was a three at times as Kadioglu and later Charlie Tasker got forward on the right.

Lewis Dunk and Jan Paul van Hecke remain the first choices at centre-back in the league but it is still very early days and there can be little doubt both Coppola and Olivier Boscagli are pushing them for places.

That all leaves Albion with decisions and also adaptability.

Back three or back four? It can go from one to the other and back again during games.

Coppola played in a back three in Italy and was sent on in what was either a shrewd or negative move by Fabian Hurzeler, depending on your point of view.

He told The Argus: “I was on the right side (of the three) trying to limit Xavi Simons when he came on. You could see his quality.

“The gaffer wanted to defend the result and also I think I can help the team on set-pieces.

“There were a lot of crosses and they were attacking while we were winning.

“He put me on to defend the result. Unfortunately we didn’t do it because we conceded, which I think was unlucky.

“But even after that we had a good reaction.”

At Barnsley, there was a back three of Coppola, Jan Paul van Hecke and Boscagli at times late on until Tasker came back to slot in on the right when needed.

The switch to a back three has been a talking point since the close season.

The reality is probably, certainly for now, that Hurzeler will have players capable of playing as a three or a four during a game.

Asked whether he is looking at a formation shift – and this wasn’t the first time we had heard the question – soon after the Spurs game, Hurzeler said: “It's for sure a possibility, and I think when we look at the game, in the end of course we conceded a goal, but it was a very unlucky goal.

"I didn't see that Tottenham created a lot when we had the three centre-backs on the pitch.

"I thought they did it really good when Diego went in. We even created really good chances afterwards, we were attacking the box quite well.”

Coppola did not come just to play in the Carabao Cup, although he understands the value of the knockout events.

Like many countries, Italy only has the one domestic knockout competition for top-flight clubs.

“Just the Coppa Italia, but that’s the FA Cup, so it’s different and it’s nice to have one more competition,” he said.

“We have more chances to win trophies.”

But he is getting used to English football and what that means.

He said: “I see the intensity is high, the quality is high. The demand is high and it is nice to play.

“I had a little more taste after the game with Tottenham and I just can’t wait to play.

“To play more, to help the team and to win games.”

Albion’s only league win so far this season came four days after their 6-0 success at Oxford United in the Carabao Cup.

They would love a repeat at Stamford Bridge following the fun they had at Oakwell.

“In Italy, we say winning helps winning,” said Coppola.

He would love to be part of it. Whatever shape that takes.