Bernardo will be home alone at Christmas.

Apart from his Basenji, a breed of hunting dog originating from Africa.

The young Brazilian defender will have plenty of company on the pitch as Albion hunt for Premier League points.

Not least from another pup ahead of him in a developing left-sided partnership.

Bernardo, 23, is playing behind Solly March, 24, after forcing his way back into Chris Hughton's plans.

March linked up with Markus Suttner when he nodded his first Premier League goal in the 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth early last season (below).

The Argus: The winger came off the bench to accompany Gaetan Bong as Albion lost again at Bournemouth four days later after-extra-time in the Carabao Cup.

March will be combining with Bernardo when they return there on Saturday as he bids to build on his first goal since that Bournemouth header in Sunday's 2-1 home defeat by Chelsea.

Bernardo was named man-of-the-match by the sponsors, an accolade he deserved after defending well and setting up March's close range reply with a downward header.

March has been impressed by the manner in which the £9 million summer signing from Red Bull Leipzig in the Bundesliga has responded to being axed from the starting line-up following a difficult debut at Watford on the opening day.

"He played the first game of the season but then didn't play for a while," March said.

"He's been training hard and come back into it. The last few games he's looked really strong.

"It's great competition now at left-back with Bongy (below centre) and Bernardo.

The Argus: "We haven't played together that often so it takes time but we are learning how each other play, where I want the ball, where he wants to play the ball.

"Things take time. Hopefully we'll be linking up more."

That depends on the pair maintaining form and the extent to which Chris Hughton rotates his squad to cope with five games in a fortnight over the festive period, beginning at Bournemouth and also ending there in the third round of the FA Cup.

Bernardo is not accustomed to such a hectic schedule at this time of year after playing in Germany and, before that, for Red Bull Salzburg in Austria.

"It's really going to be a new experience for me," he told The Argus.

"It will be a lonely Christmas because my parents need to come in January. It doesn't make sense to come at this time and then go back.

"I told my girlfriend also she doesn't need to stay here. I'll be focused on the matches so you can go home to Italy.

"It will be a lonely Christmas for me and my dog but it's fine. I'll have other years and other possibilities to enjoy Christmas."

Bernardo managed to shine against Chelsea in spite of the Hazard of facing Eden, their Belgian wizard (below), who set up the first goal for Pedro and slotted the second himself.

The Argus: He said: "It's very difficult but that's why I came to this league because I wanted to prove to myself that I am a player that is good enough to play at this level.

"You only know your level when you test yourself against this level of player with this type of quality. I can say at least I did a good job.

"When you win the ball, you enjoy it. When he (Hazard) dribbles past you, and you're on the floor, it's not nice. But I felt I won most of my duels."

The next duel is against a Bournemouth side at Chelsea tonight in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, a diversion from their nosediving form in the Premier League.

They have lost six of their last seven, including home defeats by Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.

A third away victory of the season for Albion would lift them above their south coast rivals but March is guarded.

He said: "They have faltered lately but they have got a dangerous front three and play good, attacking football. We've got to challenge that and hopefully we will if we play like we did in the second half (against Chelsea).

"We've got a lot of games, a lot of hard games. It's a tough period. Hopefully we can come through it, keep picking up points more often.

"We don't want to feel comfortable. We are always looking behind us rather than in front of us, because we know we want to just stay in the league.

"We've got to be wary of that and keep picking up points where we can."