Brajan Gruda still recalls the first time he was told he was heading to the Premier League.
It was after he lost his temper playing against an English team as a boy in Germany.
Gruda comes from a football family.
His dad Bujar and uncle both played for top Albanian club Vllaznia Shkoder.
Rather like his Under-21s Euros final opponent Jack Hinshelwood, that has helped instil a certain culture – tactics, technical details but also the competitive streak needed to make a living from the game.
And he looks back to one childhood moment which stands out.
Speaking at the club’s hotel in Spain, he told The Argus: “I can tell you one story. When I was young, I played against an English team.
“In my home city we play against the English guys and the kids come from behind and foul me.
“It was quite intense. Like many fouls and a lot of holding the shirt.
“One time, one guy fouled me and got the ball and the ref didn't say anything.
“I ran after the player and I fouled him as well and my dad said, ‘If you play like this, you are going to play in the Premier League as well one time!'.
“This was when I was young. I think nine or something. And I was in my home city, Speyer in Germany.
“Now I play in the Premier League and sometimes we talk about this story and it's a funny story.”
Gruda does not remember who he was playing against but the lesson was learned and he has been trying to show that fighting spirit, within reason, in his first year in England.
He added: “My dad has brothers and all were playing first league in Albania.
“In Germany, my uncle lived nearby and every time my dad worked, I was going out with my uncle after school or whatever and we play football.
“Behind our home was a pitch and they had been all older guys and I was seven and they let me play with them.
“So it was nice. And, of course, my dad every time showed me what is wrong, what can I do better?
“And my uncle as well. And I think they helped me a lot.”
Dad remains a big supporter for Gruda.
He added: “He's in every game there. My mum as well.
“My uncle, not anymore. He died four years ago.
“But my dad is watching every game at home and away.
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“He's watching it in the stadium, so he stays in my apartment now.
“I finally have the visa so he can stay. When it's too far, he I going to watch on the TV.”
Gruda was mentioned by James Milner this week as an example of why Albion can look to improve in the coming season.
Milner said the trajectory followed by both the young German and the more experienced Mats Wieffer showed how testing a debut Prem season can be.
And their late-season form was exciting for the new campaign which lies ahead.
Gruda came very good at home ro Liverpool late in the campaign, to follow his expertly taken goal at Wolves.
He said: “In the training especially, everything was faster and the game was intense.
“So it takes time. I think just everything together is being far away from home, it’s a new country, it’s a new language, it’s my family who are not here.
“I'm on my own. It's the first time in my life I'm on my own.
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“So everything changed in my life. Then the quality in training and in the games are different.
“I worked hard for this day to play, to play finally a very good match and I was very disappointed because some games don't work like the Liverpool game.
“But I think, when you keep going, when you keep training hard and do the things right, it is going to be this season, hopefully, more good games.”
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