Chelsea will see a different Davy Propper at the Amex.

That is the message from Albion's Dutch midfielder as he aims for an improved showing against N'Golo Kante and company on Sunday.

Albion lost 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day last season and 4-0 at home a month later.

Both matches were a few months into Propper's arrival in the Premier League from PSV Eindhoven.

He said: "I think I'm a better player than when I first arrived. I've improved.

"I can think and act a bit quicker when I get the ball these days. I realise now that I need to know where my team-mates are otherwise oppponents here take the ball off you so quickly."

Antonio Conte was in charge when Chelsea dominated against Albion last season.

The Argus: Pocket dynamo Kante (above) has been pushed further forward this season in Maurizio Sarri's midfield set-up.

Propper said: "I'd say he's a little bit different to me. But I like how he plays and he's a very good player of course. It will be interesting to play against him."

Chelsea's visit launches a sequence of matches in which Albion face some of the big guns.

Arsenal are at the Amex on Boxing Day, Liverpool come to the south coast in mid-January, followed by a trip to Old Trafford where Propper will face a former team-mate at Vitesse Arnhem that he admires.

"I played with Nemanja Matic (second right below) in Holland, so it's nice to see him play at such a big club like Man United and doing well," Propper said.

The Argus: "I I look at him because I like his style, but he's bigger and stronger than me. But he's good to follow."

Albion have beaten United twice at the Amex in the Premier League. Now Propper wants to reverse last year's pattern against Chelsea as Chris Hughton's side try to build on five wins from their last nine matches, including three in a row at the Amex.

He said: "Last year we had two big defeats at home - against Chelsea and Liverpool (5-1) so I hope we can get a little bit closer this time. It would be an important victory for us. I hope we can do it.

"I think we cannot aim for the top six - but underneath that it's very close. If we had a good year we could be ninth, tenth or even eighth.

"With a really good year you can get as high as that. It's so close and it's possible "But the target from the manager is still staying in the league. That's the most important thing. That's what we have in mind every week that we go out onto the pitch."

Even if Albion beat Chelsea, Propper's celebrations will be reserved. That is his style.

He said: "Most of the time I keep my life private. I don't put my pictures on Facebook or Instagram, that's just the way I prefer.

"I'm quiet off the field. And I’m not that different on it. I try to let my feet and the ball do the talking.

"Sometimes I put photos of the game or something up there but never really about my private life."