Jack Hinshelwood has been described as a future leader by Fabian Huerzeler.

At 19, he is more than happy to put that into practice right now.

Albion’s latest successful academy graduate will hope to be involved as Nottingham Forest visit the Amex today.

He will be widely expected to maintain his ever-present record in the Premier League this term although competition both at full-back and in midfield is now hotting up.

It is not quite a year since Hinshelwood started in the league for the first time but he feels a big part of it now after that rollercoaster of a debut season.

He comes across as quietly self-confident and at ease when speaking about his progress and said: “Last season was a breakout year for me.

“This season I can be more of a leader to the team.

“I speak pretty well on the pitch but I'm obviously still looking up and learning from the top senior pros we've got here.

“I definitely think I can become a leader here.”

Hinshelwood is the fourth generation of professional footballers from his family and has had particularly strong influence from his dad Adam, the former Albion defender who is now manager at York City.

So he gets plenty of feedback on performances for his club and, now, England under-21s.

But he said they realise he knows what he is doing.

Hinshelwood added: “Having them there always to be able to talk to is really helpful I think, something other people might not have.

“But at the same time they let me just crack on, they know I know what I need to do to be successful and I have to listen to people in this building and not be satisfied with where I am at but keep working hard to improve.

“It's a good feeling in my family at the moment with my dad doing so well.

“There was a point last season where I was injured and he had just got the job (at York) and we were having a bit of a tough moment but we've come through them together as a family.

“But to see him flying now, I am really happy and I hope it carries on because it brings that family feel-good factor.”

The fact Hinshelwood was entrusted with the vacant left-back position at the start of the season speaks volumes for the confidence Huerzeler and his staff have in his all-round ability and his footballing intelligence.

Huerzeler had looked at Carlos Baleba, Valentin Barco and under-21s’ Imari Samuels in that area in pre-season with Pervis Estupinan injured and Ferdi Kadioglu not yet on board.

Igor, who played at left-back at times last season, is still in the squad.

Barco is now on loan at Sevilla but he was still with the club and an option as the season started.

He had played most of the friendly with Villarreal in that role but Huerzeler went with Hinshelwood when the serious stuff kicked in.

There was a tough opening at Goodison Park against Jack Harrison as Everton appeared to target that area but he worked out how to come through it.

Something similar happened in the following away game, up against Bukayo Saka at Arsenal.

Hinshelwood said: “I can more than acknowledge that the first 10-15 minutes was tough.

“It was what I was expecting but it was tough.

“But to get through that and not conceding early as well, which helped, enabled me to really grow into the game.

“It was a tough spell but I am young and learning and it was a great experience for me.

“It's what I've been working towards my whole life - to be in these moments and live in the moments.

“But when you're in the game, all your focus is on what can I do to help the team so we get a positive performance and result.

“After the game, it might be a good time to reflect on 'that really did just happen'.

“I am just really enjoying the challenges that I am coming up against and I don't fear anything to be honest.

“I just see it as a great challenge to go and prove myself to everyone.”

Today, Hinshelwood could well go up against a Forest attack led by Chris Wood.

The big New Zealander was on loan at Albion in League One and, although he was only six at the time, Hinshelwood has some recollection of what he did for the club and his good record against them with clubs including Leeds and Burnley.

He also knows Forest have shown what they can do by winning 1-0 at Liverpool to extend their unbeaten start to the season.

He said: “We know the quality they possess up front and defending as well.

“They kept a clean sheet at Anfield.

“We know their threats and what they are good at but, at the same time, we have got lots of threats going forward.

“Especially in the Premier League, you've seen how defensively secure we have been so we need to keep that going.

“We didn't get the goal against Ipswich, we just lacked that final touch.

“Any game at home, we don't want to make it easy for the opponent.

“We need to make sure they know that they need to be at their best if they want to gain anything from the game.

“I think definitely these home games we need to get the Amex behind us and I think we can make it a really tough place for teams to come.”