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Graham Potter backs Brighton midfielder Enock Mwepu to shine in Premier League

Graham Potter backs Brighton midfielder Enock Mwepu to shine in Premier League
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The Seagulls begin the new campaign at Burnley on Saturday.

Graham Potter believes new Brighton midfielder Enock Mwepu is ready to be thrust into Premier League action having "made a real impression" since his big-money summer move.

Zambia international Mwepu is Albion's only major signing of the transfer window so far following his arrival from Austrian club RB Salzburg for around £20million early last month.

The Seagulls begin the new campaign at Burnley on Saturday and head coach Potter has no concerns about the 23-year-old – who scored in a pre-season friendly at Luton a fortnight ago – making a swift transition to English football.

"He's got the capability, there's no doubt about that," said Potter.

"He's settled in well. It helps that he is the personality that he is: very, very likeable, mature, a humble guy, a team player, gets on with everybody, intelligent.

"He's made a real impression on everybody, I think.

"And then on the pitch he brings a little bit of difference in terms of his qualities, his attributes.

"He's scored already, can add goals from midfield; things to improve, of course, like everybody. But we're happy with him and I think he'll get better the longer he is with us."

Brighton travel to Turf Moor ready to kick off their fifth successive season of top-flight action.

Potter guided the Seagulls to a club-record Premier League points tally of 41 in his first 12 months at the Amex Stadium before emulating that feat last term.

While the 46-year-old is keen to build on those achievements, he feels it would be foolish to look beyond top-flight survival as the primary objective.

"The established Premier League club I don't think exists, to be honest, apart from about seven clubs," he said.

"I think as soon as you think that, then you're in trouble, especially at a club, a team where we are.

"You have to always remember that the main aim is to firstly stay in the Premier League and then to try to get as many points as you can.

"It's not the toughest league in the world for nothing."

Aside from Mwepu and back-up goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen, there has been little incoming transfer activity in Sussex amid persistent calls from Brighton fans for greater attacking options following the team's persistent troubles to convert chances.

Potter, who will not be rushed into spending the money received from Ben White's £50million departure to Arsenal, believes it is too simplistic to say goal-scoring is the only area of improvement required.

"Yes I think it is. It's a strapline that is easy to say, but from our perspective we know we have to improve in all the areas and we're up for that challenge," he said.

"We're two years into this journey together. We want to try and keep going, keep improving, rather than focus on one area, we want to try to improve everything.

"The players have come back from pre-season and have a really good attitude, a really good mentality, so we're excited for the start of the season."

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Bournemouth167452421325
7Aston Villa167452425-125
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham165472129-819
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


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