It might not have been an original line but it was beautifully put.

Kaoru Mitoma runs as if he is on rails.

The description came from BBC 5 Live commentator Alistair Bruce-Ball as Albion took on Nottingham Forest last Sunday.

It came after the foul which led to Albion’s second goal in the 2-2 draw.

Apologies to any commentator who had already coined that phrase.

But it perfectly summed up how Mitoma had just run at the defence, swaying and veering slightly from side to side rather than twisting or turning, always remaining very upright in stance.

Ola Aina brought him down and was booked before Danny Welbeck put away the free-kick.

It seems Albion’s Japanese winger is back in the spotlight after what was a productive Sunday afternoon and which could have been even better.

I asked a question in these pages after that and will ask again.

Does Mitoma tend to be judged too harshly by public opinion?

Is anything other than a match-winning supershow considered a slight disappointment?

Does it sometimes need a fresh pair of eyes, people who do not watch the Seagulls very often, to remind you of how good he can be – and often is?

Last Sunday, the eyes were those of Stephen Warnock on the radio and then Shay Given on Match Of The Day.

Given’s glowing praise of the winger was used for a video clip on the BBC website.

He praised pretty much everything about Mitoma, including his defensive graft and, yes, his final ball.

So it was perhaps no surprise to hear a question about the former Kawasaki Frontale flyer when Fabian Huerzeler spoke to the media yesterday.

 

The head coach was asked whether there was a moment recently when he realised how much he enjoyed working with Mitoma.

He replied: “I enjoyed working with him from the first day because he’s a great guy.

“He’s very humble and trying to do everything to improve.

“I think after his injury he need a little bit of time to come back, to find his old shape.

“But we don’t put a lot of pressure on him. He knows best what to do to get back in his best shape.

“He’s getting better game for game. In the end, we want him to score and make assists.

“He had some great chances in the last games – he was a bit unlucky, but he keeps trying.

“He’s always there on the second post. He tries to have the easy tap in, but he also tries to go one-against-one and make a shot on the goal.

“He’s very flexible. He’s improving with his crosses, so I think it’s still a process and a development where he is, and I’m very happy with his situation, the shape he is in at the moment, but we still try to improve in every phase of the game.”

Mitoma is known for working hard on his game.

At his old university in Tsukuba, there is an area just away from the main pitch which is known as Mitoma's corner.

It is where he used to take himself to do extra practice on his skills and tricks.

Huerzeler agreed Mitoma has a fantastic first touch but, when asked whether it stood out in Albion training sessions even among Premier League players, he was more reserved.

He said: “I think in some ways his first touch is special.

“But of course it’s also a thing where I’m convinced you can train [to improve].

“So how you pass, how you take the first touch and if you do a lot of this exercise in training, I think you can improve.

“But of course, Mitoma has an outstanding first touch. He’s an outstanding player.

“He’s a player who can make the difference. But again, for all these players, there are still things where we can improve. And the thing is that he wants to improve.

“He doesn’t say, ‘I’m finished with my development’. He’s still searching for potentials. That’s what is really impressive with him.”