AFTER an FA Cup baptism of fire, Marcos Alonso now feels he’s right at home in English football.

The young Spanish defender was thrown in at the deep end at the DW Stadium last Wednesday night after Sam Ricketts’ horrific injury, before standing up to a barrage at Craven Cottage.

And while Fulham might have targeted the inexperienced full back as a possible weak link in Wanderers’ armour, Alonso showed exactly why Owen Coyle was willing to make him his biggest investment of the summer with a performance of real maturity.

“It was a great time to come in and play,” he said. “I feel like I am getting better with each game.

“I want to keep working hard and winning games like this. I really enjoyed my performance.”

Much was made of the possible weaknesses in Wanderers’ makeshift back four but they certainly did not show.

Alonso was making only his sixth start for the club since his £2.2million move from Real Madrid in the summer and, after initially struggling to get to grips with the game, grew considerably stronger as the afternoon wore on.

“You know you are going to be in for a difficult afternoon against any player in this league,” he said. “But I was pleased with how I played.

“We got another clean sheet and I want it to carry on this way against Newcastle on Saturday.

“I am settling into the club and English football now. I am very happy with how things are going.”

Alonso admits he has struggled since his arrival from the Bernabeu.

Struck down by an ankle injury at first, the youngster looked off the pace in his first outing in the league cup against Burnley.

“It was difficult at first because I was injured at the beginning of the season and I wasn’t feeling okay,” he said.

“It was also a very different kind of football but now I am feeling very good and I feel like I am improving all the time.

“After all my hard work, I’m happy that I am now doing good things.”