Jake Forster-Caskey has revealed there is more pressure playing for his club than his country.
The Albion midfielder on duty with England Under-21s says his international diversions offer an escape from the fixture demands with the Seagulls.
Forster-Caskey is with Gareth Southgate's England youngsters preparing for their European Championship play-off against Croatia.
The first leg is at Molineux on Friday evening (5.45pm) and the second leg in Croatia next Tuesday (5pm), with a place at stake in next summer's finals in the Czech Republic.
A strong squad includes the likes of Manchester United full-back Luke Shaw, in-form West Brom striker Saido Berahino and Middlesbrough duo Ben Gibson and Patrick Bamford, who Forster-Caskey could be up against on his return from suspension when Albion return to Championship action at the Amex on October 18.
Sami Hyypia's side have just concluded a burst of seven matches in 22 days. Forster-Caskey was involved in four of them and it might have been five had he not been banned at Watford on Saturday for accumulating five bookings.
Another gruelling programme of seven Championship and Capital One Cup games in 22 days awaits Albion after the international break.
Forster-Caskey said of his England experiences: "I enjoy it. You can sort of escape a little bit, get away from the pressures of club football. I find I can just enjoy myself there.
"It's quite a relaxed atmosphere. All the lads are professional enough to do it right when we are away with England. There's a good group there and a lot of confidence.
"It helps my confidence, going away with the best players in the country and playing against them, playing with them.
"Other little things I want to improve on personally I can do when I am away in a more probably relaxed atmosphere than with the club, because there are a lot of games in club football, normally Saturday-Tuesday, so it is hard sometimes to get enough time on the training ground."
Forster-Caskey has featured regularly on the left-side of the midfield triangle in Albion's revised set-up under Hyypia.
He has responded to the increased defensive demands for the midfielders in Hyypia's system, which releases the full-backs as attacking outlets.
Forster-Caskey said: "I've had to change, because I've been used to playing 4-3-3 for a number of years now. But I've enjoyed it. I think it has improved me as a player because I am learning different things, learning defensively.
"When you learn a different formation you learn other things as well in other positions, so it's been good for me. I feel like I can play in any of the (midfield) roles.
"If you can play in other positions then it is only going to benefit you. I'd like to be a player that can play in any of those and I feel like I could. It's just up to the gaffer though."
Forster-Caskey also relishes the sessions with Southgate and his international team-mates.
He said: "Training is really good, a high tempo, and the standard is obviously very good because the players are the best in the country.
"There is no-one there sitting in the reserves. Everyone is playing, either Championship or Premier League, so at a high level. That breeds confidence through the whole team.
"People say (England) youngsters are not playing at a high level. We have just got to do it for ourselves, keep pushing on and prove people wrong, get in the first team and win trophies."
Original article
The Albion midfielder on duty with England Under-21s says his international diversions offer an escape from the fixture demands with the Seagulls.
Forster-Caskey is with Gareth Southgate's England youngsters preparing for their European Championship play-off against Croatia.
The first leg is at Molineux on Friday evening (5.45pm) and the second leg in Croatia next Tuesday (5pm), with a place at stake in next summer's finals in the Czech Republic.
A strong squad includes the likes of Manchester United full-back Luke Shaw, in-form West Brom striker Saido Berahino and Middlesbrough duo Ben Gibson and Patrick Bamford, who Forster-Caskey could be up against on his return from suspension when Albion return to Championship action at the Amex on October 18.
Sami Hyypia's side have just concluded a burst of seven matches in 22 days. Forster-Caskey was involved in four of them and it might have been five had he not been banned at Watford on Saturday for accumulating five bookings.
Another gruelling programme of seven Championship and Capital One Cup games in 22 days awaits Albion after the international break.
Forster-Caskey said of his England experiences: "I enjoy it. You can sort of escape a little bit, get away from the pressures of club football. I find I can just enjoy myself there.
"It's quite a relaxed atmosphere. All the lads are professional enough to do it right when we are away with England. There's a good group there and a lot of confidence.
"It helps my confidence, going away with the best players in the country and playing against them, playing with them.
"Other little things I want to improve on personally I can do when I am away in a more probably relaxed atmosphere than with the club, because there are a lot of games in club football, normally Saturday-Tuesday, so it is hard sometimes to get enough time on the training ground."
Forster-Caskey has featured regularly on the left-side of the midfield triangle in Albion's revised set-up under Hyypia.
He has responded to the increased defensive demands for the midfielders in Hyypia's system, which releases the full-backs as attacking outlets.
Forster-Caskey said: "I've had to change, because I've been used to playing 4-3-3 for a number of years now. But I've enjoyed it. I think it has improved me as a player because I am learning different things, learning defensively.
"When you learn a different formation you learn other things as well in other positions, so it's been good for me. I feel like I can play in any of the (midfield) roles.
"If you can play in other positions then it is only going to benefit you. I'd like to be a player that can play in any of those and I feel like I could. It's just up to the gaffer though."
Forster-Caskey also relishes the sessions with Southgate and his international team-mates.
He said: "Training is really good, a high tempo, and the standard is obviously very good because the players are the best in the country.
"There is no-one there sitting in the reserves. Everyone is playing, either Championship or Premier League, so at a high level. That breeds confidence through the whole team.
"People say (England) youngsters are not playing at a high level. We have just got to do it for ourselves, keep pushing on and prove people wrong, get in the first team and win trophies."
Original article