Axel Tuanzebe thanked Dean Smith for putting “big faith” in him by making him a first team regular in central defence – and says playing week in and week out has positively affected his whole life.
Tuanzebe is now focused on repaying that confidence from Smith – and is eager to “deliver for the team”.
He told Club TV: “I am buzzing to be playing regularly.
“I feel like I’m growing, getting fitter, becoming a better player and a better person.
“I must thank the gaffer so much. He’s put big faith into me. He trusts me to play. All I want to do is deliver for him and deliver for the team.
“Playing regularly affects your whole life. It affects you away from the training ground.
“You’re happier, you’re focused on what’s to come, you pay that extra bit of attention to everything and you want to improve even more because you’re happy – and when you’re happy doing something you tend to do it better.
“I am so pleased to be playing.”
