Jose Izquierdo has a fine line to tread as he gets used to Premier League life.

The Albion winger has been bulking up a bit for the more physical challenge in England.

But without losing the speed and acceleration which are pivotal to his game.

The Colombian winger hopes to face West Ham tomorrow, the team against whom he really introduced himself to the Premier League.

Izquierdo cut inside and beat Joe Hart for a second goal, right on half-time, which went a long way to killing the contest that Friday night at the London Stadium.

The Argus:

He has been seeking a repeat ever since and still holds up that game as one of two which stand out for him on a personal level.

The physical stature of players he has come up against has been a shock.

He has seen all these players on television but somehow they seem bigger in real life.

So the answer has been to break the habits of a lifetime and get in the weights room.

Izquierdo told The Argus: “Before, I didn’t normally go to the gym.

“I now go quite a lot, I work more on my physique, do extra work.

“I want to improve every day to be at the right level because this is the Premier League and nobody waits for you.

“I work on upper and lower body and I can feel a difference.

“But, at the same time, I don’t want to lose my speed I need that balance.

“If I do too much, I’ll be big and strong but I might lose speed.

“It’s always playing with the balance. They advise me at the club.

“My diet hasn’t change, though. I’ve always had a good diet.”

Izquierdo believes he could have been more consistent in his first two-thirds of a Premier League season.

But West Ham away was a good night.

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He said: “Yes, that and Bournemouth at home – equal.

“But it is a different game and playing at home these games feel like finals.

“The goal at West Ham was a very nice way to introduce myself, as I wrote on Twitter afterwards.

“I just try to take every chance I get and hope another chance comes to score.

“I am trying to do the same if I get the chance to shoot at goal.

“But the most important thing is to help the team.”

Albion go into the game on the back of, on the face of it, not a bad point at Southampton.

Glenn Murray, who gave them their early lead after a move involving Izquierdo, said the initial disappointment of the 1-1 draw would feel better the day after the game.

But speaking in the cold light of yesterday, Izquierdo had not really started to see the bright side.

He said: “I thought it was disappointing. We started well, we moved the ball well.

“I had a chance at the very start of the game, then came the penalty and we were playing well.”

Izquierdo was partly involved in Southampton’s leveller when James Ward-Prowse drilled a low free-kick just past his foot and into the goalmouth, from where Jack Stephens touched it home.

The Colombian said: “I thought it was bad luck how the ball managed to go across our goal all the way along the ground.

“The ball passed right by me. I tried to clear and it flicked off my leg.

“It kills you really because we had defended well for more than 60 minutes, well prepared, well positioned, trying to repel their attacks.

“Then to concede a goal like this is so disappointing because you lose two points.

“And there are also other results that aren’t helping us.

“Now we need to look after home form. Run, search for the goal early, press from high up.

“When we go away, teams press us, teams attack us. We have to do the same.”

Izquierdo could be part of a South American link-up in attack, as was the case late on at St Mary’s.

Leo Ulloa learnt long ago about what is needed in English football.

He was bemused he did not get more protection in his battles with Championship centre-halves, not least the Derby pairing of Jake Buxton and Richard Keogh against whom he ended his Albion career.

Since then he has appeared in 86 Premier League games.

Any culture shocks have long since been overcome.

So, when asked what he brings to the squad, it was perhaps no surprise which word Izquierdo chose.

“Experience. Leo will bring us experience. He has been there, he did well at Leicester and was champion.

“His goals were important in winning the title.

“What he can bring is important.”