Summer signing Levi Colwill says life at Albion has been a big step up.

But team-mates are making the adaptation as smooth as possible.

The defender’s arrival from Chelsea on loan was one of the stories of the window.

He has yet to start but has come on as a sub to see out narrow wins over Manchester United and Leeds.

He also came through a full game in the Carabao Cup win over Forest Green.

Colwill, 19, caught the eye at Huddersfield last season and has now stepped up a level.

He said: “I think this is the quickest I’ve settled in because of the players, the gaffer and everyone put together at the club.

“They have helped me settle in around the lads.

“I feel comfortable around the lads and I am ready to play football.”

Colwill produced a strong and mature performance in the cup tie at Forest Green alongside Jan Paul van Hecke and Ed Turns.

Goalkeeper and skipper Jason Steele was particularly impressed with composure exuded by the youngsters in front of him as the League One side pressed.

Colwill said: “That was similar to a Championship game but I really enjoyed it.

“It was good to get minutes, good to get myself back fit.

“Obviously I’m not there yet from pre-season but I have been working hard every day.”

Colwill’s summer schedule was delayed by the fact he reached the Championship play-off final.

Asked whether had a disjointed pre-season, he said: “It wasn’t very suited to here, I would say.

“But I am slowly getting up to the team’s level and standards “The training varies a lot at every team you go to.

“I am picking up bits and pieces here and there, which is helping me so much.

“I have just got to keep learning.”

Colwill has trained with senior players at Chelsea on occasion.

But his day-to-day work is perhaps best compared to what he was doing at the top end of the Championship last term.

The 19-year-old said his daily work with the Seagulls feels like big step up.

He said: “There are better players around.

“Everyone in the team is such a good player.

“I’ve got to get better and level up.

“It’s a big jump, being with them everyday and training with them.

“The standards are higher, you can’t let them drop.”

Colwill speaks highly of how he has settled with his new colleagues.

He said: “I can’t say one bad word about one person.

“Everybody has helped me, especially the other defenders.

“If I want to ask anybody, I feel comfortable enough to go up them and they just help me with anything.”

All of which led to those first minutes at the Amex, thrown into the heat of battle as Leeds strove to get back on terms.

Colwill responded and did a sound, uncomplicated job on the left of defence.

He said: “It was a good time to come on, winning.

“You’ve got to see it out, can’t make any mistakes.

“But I really enjoyed it. The fans were brilliant.”

Steele is among those who struggled to believe Colwill is still a teenager.

Asked how that maturity manifested itself from both Colwill and van Hecke at Forest Green, Steele said: “They are just really calm and comfortable out there.

“You can see, in the last 20 minutes when we have to dig in a little bit and they have a lot of territory, you never feel desperate.

“Nothing is desperate. It’s very calm and that’s the sign of a good player – when times are tough to stay calm and manage situations.”