Bernardo did not know which way to turn on his Premier League debut.

Now the young Brazilian defender is ready for anything Wilfried Zaha and company throw at him against Crystal Palace.

Especially after experiencing the thrill of victory against Albion's arch rivals.

Left-back Bernardo has faced some difficult wingers since a £9 million move last summer from Bundesliga outfit Red Bull Leipzig.

The most difficult of all was first up at Vicarage Road.

"For sure it was Pereyra, Watford, first game," Bernardo (below) told The Argus.

The Argus: "It was not a nice experience for me. He was on a very good day, I was not on my best day, playing out of position (right-back).

"It was a bit traumatic. Pereyra was bothering me for the whole match.

"The other one when he was on the pitch for a few minutes before I got injured was Antonio."

Bernardo's fleeting tussle with West Ham substitute Michail Antonio in Albion's first match of 2019 at the London Stadium was tough in more ways than one.

He missed a good chance when they were 2-0 up. They ended up drawing 2-2 and he suffered a hamstring injury after a run of games from October following the Watford debacle, winning his place back from Gaetan Bong.

Bernardo (below) had to bide his time again until returning to the league line-up at Bong's expense in last Saturday's relieving 1-0 victory against Huddersfield at the Amex.

The Argus: "It was very frustrating," he said. "I had a good sequence and was playing good football when I had the injury. After that I had to wait three or four games to get another chance.

"I was hungry. I want to keep my spot in the team.

"We needed a victory. The last month was not a really good month, especially because of the results. The performances were not that bad.

"We were getting closer and closer to the relegation zone so for sure it has taken a big weight off our backs."

Bernardo has only featured in one league defeat at home in six appearances. That was against Chelsea in December, soon after Palace were beaten 3-1 at the Amex.

"That was a really good night," he said. "I think that was one of our best performances.

"For me it was also special, one of my first matches at the Amex and my first derby as well. I'd never had a chance to play a derby before.

"You feel the energy around the match. The atmosphere is different, online you also can't avoid it.

"You see the fans get really excited when we play against Palace. It's a nice game to play in, to experience."

The Argus: Bernardo (above) is not daunted by the return clash at Selhurst Park. He said: "Actually the Crystal Palace fans were known in Brazil years ago for having a different way of cheering to the traditional English way.

"They had paper that they threw. I have seen it on Brazilian TV. It's a tough place to play.

"I have been to tough places in Brazil and Germany. It's nothing that scares me. I'm excited, it's a nice experience, a derby, playing away at a tough place with a different atmosphere. I think it will be nice."

Bernardo is relishing the challenge as well of coping with Zaha, who has scored five times in nine appearances against Albion.

He told The Argus: "For me it's exciting. I came to this league to play against the best players, to test myself and understand my level.

"If I want to be one of the best in my position, and the best that I can be, I need to test myself against these players.

"It's extra motivation, another opportunity to show what I came here for and understand where I am at right now at this point in my career.

"I am preparing myself. When you are playing against a top player like him - and I'm not even sure if he is playing on my side or not - I'm really excited.

"He is a big player. I think he might be the best player outside of the top six in the Premier League."

Albion have kept four clean sheets out of seven at the Amex in all competitions, none away since the only one this season in the October win at Newcastle.

Bernardo said: "The clean sheet is key to everything. If you don't concede goals you know you guarantee a draw. The power and the players we have in attack we have a high chance to score a goal and win the match.

"It's a big responsibility and big achievement for us as defenders to have a clean sheet. They have many good players, not just Zaha, Batshuayi, Townsend.

"If you look at their squad they are really good individuals, so we have to take special care against these players.

"Maybe a bit more video analysis, more individual and not just as a team. We've had this from the staff. They have prepared us with everything that could help us."