Deniz Undav has no intention of feeling like a quitter.

He has revealed that is why he had second thoughts on a loan move away from Albion.

The German striker was handed a first Premier League start in the home fixture with Bournemouth on Saturday.

He generally played well although he saw a huge triple chance to score slip away in the first half.

Undav was linked with loan interest in January as he struggled for playing time.

Blackburn were among those keen on his services.

Even quite late in the window, Roberto De Zerbi said such a move was a possibility.

But the man who plundered goals for Royale Union St-Gilloise last term is determined to make an impact with the Seagulls over the coming months.

He told The Argus: “When I start something, I want to finish the season with the team.

“I had a time where I was thinking about this (a loan) but I cleared my mind.

“It was, ‘You know what, Deniz, stay with Brighton for a few more months, everything is going well, maybe you will get the time and just fight for my spot’.

“I don’t want to be a quitter, so that is why I stayed.”

Several Albion favourites have had to be patient after moving to England.

Alexis Mac Allister, Moises Caicedo and Yves Bissouma are good examples.

Even current sensation Kaoru Mitoma had to wait for his chance to a certain extent.

Mitoma’s emergence shows what can done - and he was a team-mate of Undav’s at Union St-Gilloise last season.

Undav said: “It’s not only Kaoru, it’s other players in this team.

“When you get the chance, you need to take it and he’s done that.

“He’s the star of our team right now, he’s making the difference and I hope one time I can be a difference-maker in our team.”

Undav was happy enough with his first Prem start, with one obvious reservation.

He said: “We got the three points and that makes me happy.

“I think I played a good game.

“I am happy I got my first Premier League start and that I deserve to be here.

“Of course, I am angry I didn’t score.

“I needed to score, it should have been a goal.

“Apart from this, the most important thing is to help the team.

“I think I did a good job.

“I could do better but maybe, with time, it will be better, we shall see.”

Undav, who netted recently in the FA Cup tie at Middlesbrough, seemed certain to open his Prem account after picking up a loose pass from Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto.

He showed good composure to tee himself up but then shot against a defender, the keeper and the post in quick succession.

The rueful smile afterwards said it all.

He added: “If I had two, three, or four more games in the legs then it will be different and it would benefit me and the team.

“Now is the time to work even harder.

“Maybe next week I will get the same chance and maybe then I will score.”

Undav said he appreciated support he has received from fans.

He added: “It’s really nice, to be fair.

“I am working really hard.

“I have been trying for months to get my first start in the Premier League and finally I got it and to play in front of the fans it is always good.

“They pushed us, they helped us and I am happy we got the three points and they could go home happy.”

Undav now hopes to face Crystal Palace on Saturday.

He was told about the rivalry soon after the Bournemouth game.

He said: “I would love to be in the starting XI for that game.

“I will work hard this week to get a chance.

“I didn’t know much about the rivalry.

“I heard about it in the dressing room.

“I will need to work even harder than before because it’s a different game to play against Crystal Palace, with the rivalry.

“I hope we get the three points and make the fans proud.”