Bernardo reveals the big changes he has tackled at Albion

But he reckons he is on the right wavelength after some challenging weeks with his new club.

The Brazilian has offered some valuable insight into the adaptation process which followed his summer move from RB Leipzig.

He arrived at Albion with perfect English – but found he spoke a different language to his new colleagues when it came to a preferred way of defending.

A poor debut at Watford and some challenging weeks on the training pitch followed.

There was a very proficient Carabao Cup outing at centre-back.

That is a position Bernardo enjoys but, he suspects, is not suited to his physique in the Premier League in the longer term.

But his versatility has guaranteed him a regular place on the bench ahead of more specialist defenders like Bruno, Martin Montoya and Markus Suttner.

He returned to the spotlight with a part in his side’s first away win after going on as substitute for Bruno when Newcastle were pushing for an equaliser.

Along with Leon Balogun, that appears to be his role for now – sort of a defensive supersub.

But he believes he has come a long way since a tough debut against Watford on the opening day.

Bernardo followed his outing at St James’ Park with a full 90 minutes for the under-23s as they beat Benfica B on Monday.

He was part of a disciplined 4-5-1 unit who held their shape, were patient in defence and challenged Benfica to break them down.

That fits into the Seagulls way we have seen in the Premier League.

It is a long way from Leipzig.

Bernardo told The Argus: “I think it has been about adapting, getting used to the game.

“Pre-season was quite good for me, I was confident. But the match against Watford was kind of a shock. 

“It was very different to what I had had in Germany. I had the impression that I needed games to get used to it.”

Asked about the key differences, Bernardo replied: “The players here are more clever.

“For example, when you go for a tackle, there is a lot going on before the actual tackle.

“They push, they pull, they touch, they do a lot of tricks and these are things I wasn’t used to.

“It’s about getting smarter. These are things I will just get when I play matches.

“In general, I think the training sessions were also very good for me.

“I needed to understand the way Brighton play.

“It’s very different from how I used to play in my old club in Germany and I think now I’m doing a good job. I think I’m more prepared.

“I need some minutes to get completely used to it but I’m going the right way.”

It turns out the Albion style is somewhat different to Leipzig.

Barnardo said: “In Leipizig, we used to rely a lot on the speed of the front players.

“We were all the time pressing with a high line, all the time trying to put the ball in behind.

“Then the guys were running and we were running again and pressing.

“At Brighton, it is more a controlled game, more possession.

“When you are defending you drop back, you wait. It’s more organised.

“At Leipzig, it was more intense.

“All the time intensity, intensity, intensity. Press, press, press, press.

“Here I would say it’s bit more clever because you drop back and then you shuffle and so it’s just a different way – and almost opposite ways to play football.

“Sometimes I have my instinct that I played on for the last three years.

“Then I have to re-educate myself and think, ‘Wait, that’s not what we do here. That’s not what they want me to do’.

“That was was the most difficult part, I think.

“Re-educate myself and don’t do things automatically as I want to.”

Bernardo was delighted to be sent on at Newcastle and came through a potentially testing time well.

He said: “It was tough but the coach brought me on and that means he trusts me.

“I thought I did my job and also congratulate the whole team, especially those who did their jobs for 90 minutes. I did my job just for 20 minutes.”

Bernardo is only 23 but has played an array of roles in his time.

He said: “In Brazil, it was funny because I was a midfielder.

“One coach came to me and said to me, ‘Look, you’re good but if you want to become a professional football player, you are going to have to play as a central defender’.

“I trusted him and then I played my whole career there as a central defender. Then, when I arrived in Austria with Red Bull Salzburg, I was played as a holding midfielder for one season.

“Then, at Leipzig, I was playing right-back and, in the second season, left-back.

“I consider the position I most enjoy to be central defender but, in Germany and especially in England, it is a very physical game.

“I’m skinny, you know, so in Brazil or maybe Spain I could play central defender. I understand that is not possible here.

“If you see Dunky, if you see Shane Duffy, they are monsters.

“Left-back is the second position and I think I can do a good job there.

“And then right-back if necessary. I played the whole season there in Leipzig and I think I can help the team.”