Tyrhys Dolan has served notice that this season will be different. The 24-year-old Englishman opened his LaLiga campaign in emphatic fashion, scoring in Espanyol's 3-0 demolition of Levante — and he believes that result is only the beginning.

"I am not the person or player I was a year ago," Dolan told Sky Sports. "I know the league now. I know myself a lot more. I know what I can do."

A change of position, a change of fortunes

Much of Dolan's debut season in Spain, following his departure from Championship club Blackburn Rovers, was spent on the right wing — wide, near the touchline, focused on delivering crosses. The numbers told that story. "My assist output was much better than my goal output," he admitted.

This term, however, he has shifted back to the left — and the difference is immediate. "For me, it is better because I can cut in and get more shots off. I can be more dangerous as a left winger," he explained. Cutting inside onto his stronger foot creates a dilemma for defenders that he relishes. "Is he going to take it and put across? Is he going to have a shot?" There are, he says, "more avenues to my game."

Surviving last season's slide

Last season eventually turned into a grim exercise in survival for Espanyol. A promising start gave way to a desperate fight against relegation in the spring. Dolan is candid about how that felt. "You'd be lying if you sit there and say you don't feel the energy around the stadium. We just don't want to have a repeat of that."

The thumping win over Levante offered an immediate reminder of what the team can be. "It was just like, yeah, now we're off and running again," he said.

A summer that restored the mind

The close season gave Dolan something equally important: time away. Living alone in Barcelona, he values the chance to decompress. "Mentally, you need that switch off. Within the season, you are constantly preparing, dealing with emotions, good or bad."

Espanyol spent much of pre-season in England, meaning his parents attended every fixture. "My mum and dad were at every single game," he said warmly. Yet part of him also missed Barcelona. "Being in Barcelona means being in work mode and as an athlete you love it in that environment. You start missing it when you are away from it for too long."

Real Madrid await

Espanyol host Real Madrid on Saturday evening — the 36-time Spanish champions' first LaLiga match of the season under Jose Mourinho. Kylian Mbappe, whom Dolan considers the finest opponent he faced last season, will be in attendance.

The first encounter with Madrid felt like a pinch-me moment. This time, Dolan insists, he approaches the occasion with "a cooler head." Whether his direct opponent is Trent Alexander-Arnold or Denzil Dumfries matters little to him. "Anybody. These are the games that you want to compete against the best so that you can bring your best and see where you are at."

"I was happy with what I did in my first season. But I know it is nowhere near what I know that I can do." The trademark somersault celebration could yet make an appearance against the world's most famous football club. The new Tyrhys Dolan is ready.