Brighton's Alireza Jahanbakhsh lays down his future plans after summer links to Ajax

Albion's Alireza Jahanbakhsh admits he's had to endure the most challenging time of his career at Brighton but the Iranian international remains determined to be a success in the Premier League.

Brighton signed the winger from Dutch club AZ Alkmaar for a reported then club record fee of £17m on a five-year deal in July 2018.

Jahanbakhsh was the top scorer in the Dutch League prior to his move but admits adjusting to the physicality and intensity of English football was tough.

He finally scored his first goal for Brighton against Bournemouth in the Premier League in 2019 and swiftly followed that with a remarkable overhead kick in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea on New Year's Day.

It was the perfect start to 2020 but a sustained run in the team under Graham Potter failed to materialise as Brighton went on to secure their top flight status for a fourth consecutive season.

Many felt Jahanbakhsh would leave the Seagulls during the previous transfer window and a return to Holland looked likely with PSV Eindhoven and Ajax both keen.

Potter's comments last July also hinted at a possible exit: “Of course he will be frustrated because he wants to play and I understand that," the head coach said.

"So that’s something we have to think about during the summer break, we have to do what’s right for him and the club."

Jahanbakhsh however, wanted to stay at Brighton and prove himself in the English top flight.

He hasn't yet started in the Premier League as yet this season but he was hugely impressive in the Carabao Cup matches and scored cracking goals in the victories against Portsmouth and Preston.

He was pushing hard for a starting role at Everton just prior to the international break but then pulled up with a slight hamstring problem in the League Cup loss to Manchester United.

He will hope to be fit for selection for Albion's next match at Crystal Palace on Sunday, October 18.

“Playing in the Premier League isn’t easy,” said the 27-year-old. “Every team has got a lot of quality players you come up against every week.

“The quality and the physicality of the Premier League is more intense, and my first season at Brighton was the toughest of my whole career.

"I would have liked a lot more opportunities, but for whatever reason that didn’t happen.

“But I learned a lot and I realised I had to improve. I thought my second season was a lot better, but things don’t always go the way you want.

"This season represents a new opportunity for me, I will work my socks off to get my chance. I will never give up, I will always keep pushing.

“I know my qualities. I am never going to give up because of one difficult season, that’s not me. The gaffer is the one making the decisions and I am ready whenever he needs me.”

Jahanbakhsh believes the tough times have helped him be even more determined but he also praised the impact of head coach Potter who he said has improved him as a player.

“Our coach-player relationship is really good. I believe I have improved a lot under him and I hope that I have shown that with my performances recently.

“I have got a really good relationship with everyone at the club. There are always ups and downs because players want to play every game, but there is situations like that in every job.

"He talk to us and helps us, which is nice as a player.

“I am trying to show the manager every day in training that I am ready to go.

"Obviously it is up to the gaffer whether or not he puts me in the team but it’s my responsibility to train well so that when he calls on me I am ready to perform.

"I want to be important to us in every game.”