Kieran Dowell got his first taste of action for Derby County on British shores at the weekend, playing just over an hour in the 5-2 friendly win at Burton Albion.
Dowell, who agreed a season-long loan deal at Pride Park from Everton earlier in the summer, impressed in the 62 minutes at the Pirelli Stadium as the Rams ran out comfortable winners against Nigel Clough’s Brewers.
And the midfielder, who spent a fruitful season on loan at the Rams’ arch-rivals Nottingham Forest earlier in his career, delighted new Derby boss Phillip Cocu, having been deployed in a 4-3-3 formation along with Mason Bennett and Tom Huddlestone.
"On the ball he is so great, his touch and his awareness in how he has to turn and his passing, also,” said the ex-Barcelona midfielder, who recently replaced Frank Lampard in charge at Pride Park.
"He should have played 45 minutes but at half time he said 'I feel good, so let's continue for 15 more'.
"To get him the minutes as fast as possible is good.
"I am very pleased he joined us,” added the Dutchman.
Dowell, meanwhile, is hoping to flourish at Pride Park in a similar way to that of Mason Mount last term.
The pair are teammates in the England under-21 setup, and Dowell is keen to make a similar impact to the Chelsea youngster.
“Obviously, Mason is a goalscoring midfielder and that's what I class myself as as well," Dowell told Derbyshire Live.
"I've come to create goals and score goals, so if you want to call that a talisman, yeah. That's what I want to do - chip in with goals and assists."
