YOU suspect the smile on Britt Assombalonga's face is here to stay. It is certainly a permanent fixture as the striker discusses life at Nottingham Forest.
And, following the start he has made at his new club, Assombalonga's infectious grin is only likely to get wider.
After joining from Peterborough for a club record fee of £5m, the 21-year-old was under big pressure to produce for his new club.
But Assombalonga is not the only one smiling at the City Ground, following an impressive start to the campaign.
Forest head to Sheffield Wednesday today, sitting pretty at the top of the Championship table.
While Assombalonga himself has not only just opened his account, but also taken his tally to four, at this early stage of the season. He is rapidly becoming Forest's very own smiling assassin.
"It has been really good, I am enjoying my time here," said Assombalonga. "It was a relief to get that first goal because, as a striker, you are waiting for the first one to come.
"I got the first goal way from home and then scored again away – and I wanted to get one at the City Ground.
"Now I am buzzing that I got that as well. We were winning 3-0 (against Reading) and I admit I was thinking 'when am I going to get one?'."
Assombalonga did not have to wait long as, following a goal mouth melee, he pounced instinctively on the loose ball to power home from close range and complete the scoring against the Royals.
"They are the kind of goals that you love, as a striker," said Assombalonga.
"I didn't score in my first game, but I knew it would come. And now, when I look back at four goals so far, I am quite happy. You do feel the pressure, but now we have won a few games and everyone is in a good mood, so you don't really think about it.
"It has been hard making the step up to the Championship, but when you have good players around you, it makes things so much easier."
Despite Forest's bright beginnings, manager Pearce is demanding more from his players, who he believes can still improve.
"It is good that the manager demands a lot from us. We have made a good start, but he knows that we can be even better," said Assombalonga. "He is a good motivator.
"The manager is really good, he makes the young players in particular feel as though they are part of things; as though they are needed.
"He is always offering words of encouragement in your ear, before and after games. He makes you feel as though you are part of the squad."
Pearce is not the only positive influence for Assombalonga, who is enjoying playing alongside Matty Fryatt and, equally, is relishing the challenge of scoring more goals than Michail Antonio.
Fryatt has found the net twice so far, but it is Assombalonga and Antonio who have both notched four.
And the former Watford man admits there is a bit of competition brewing.
"Matty is good on the ball and just having somebody like that alongside you is good," said Assombalonga. "He has so much experience at this level. I have sat and watched his goals. He is a good player.
"He is somebody you can learn from, just by watching him.
"As for seeing Michail get a few goals, it makes me want to score more goals and now he wants to beat me as well.
"The more goals he scores, the better it is for both of us. Because that competition will fire us on.
"It is good that there is more than one of us getting the goals, it does take the pressure off a little bit.
"You want everyone to be chip in. As a striker you want to score, but it is good that we have goals coming from everywhere.
"A good side always has more than one player who can score goals.
"If we can keep going the way we are going, as a team, who says we cannot get promoted?"
Assombalonga says he has quickly felt at home at Forest.
And he hopes the club can make top spot their own, as they are starting to feel equally at home there.
"It helped that we have started so well," he said. "The key is that we keep it going now.
"I am not surprised we have made a good start, because there are good players here.
"But the hope is that we finish the day at the top of the table. We want to be on top of the table after we face Wednesday, then we just want to keep going.
"They are a strong, physical side, but we can cope with that.
"Our aim is to get promoted, as for personal goals, I don't really do them, I just want to score goals."
From what we have seen so far from the striker, you suspect that will not be an issue.
And whatever happens in the coming months, you can be certain Assombalonga will go about his business with a smile on his face.
