For Hannover 96 prospect Sal Zizzo, the path to Bundesliga football is full of adjustments - both on and off the field.

Signed after a strong Under-20 World Cup performance for the US last summer, the 20-year old has been busy dipping his feet in German waters with the Reds' second team. Coming straight from UCLA, Zizzo is trying to avoid being tackled by a quantum leap in game quality.

"It's faster," the wing attacker told American Soccer Daily of the play. "The game is just faster and the defending is better. You don't have lots of time on the ball because there is always another guy, so it is quicker. And you got to think faster to play ahead."

Accustomed to being one of his team's top threats, Zizzo is also being forced to get used to fighting for his place. He has yet to dress for the first team, but is staying positive.

"It's definitely hard," he admitted. "I grew up always being on the starting team and coming here is a kind of reality - not to get used to, but to accept, try and keep fighting."

"And it's hard when you are in a different country, you're not playing and your confidence level is what you always have to worry about, but you just have to keep trying and you will get your chance eventually."

Coping with reserve status while attempting to make a new country home isn't easy, but the wily winger is doing his best to fit in with all facets of being a Hannover 96 hopeful from America.

"I'm still getting used (to German life)," says Zizzo. "Living here is a lot different. The language is hard, but I'm learning twice a week. I don't know, maybe it takes a year to get used to everything - so when you actually know the language, you can make jokes with friends. But I can talk with the team as a lot of them speak English."

Club sponsored German lessons aside, the social transition has been made much easier by having compatriot Steve Cherundolo around. His fellow US international is a key member of the squad, which has helped Zizzo make pals.

"(I've become friends with) some of the younger guys - Morten (Jensen), who is one of our goalkeepers," he intimated. "Everyone just kind of helps me out and they are nice, so I'm happy with that."

When it comes to the training pitch, Zizzo does his best to keep up with the German flying around and coach Dieter Hecking will often meet him halfway linguistically.

"He talks to me in English a little bit," said the young American. "They want me to keep learning German. They think that's really important that I understand because they want to be able to explain the tactical way and how they'd like to play."

"With me speaking English, it's kind of hard for them to explain. They've talked to Steve a little bit to tell me and stuff like that, but that barrier is still hard."

Language chasm notwithstanding, Hecking has communicated his hopes for the player's future with the team. "He thinks I'm very fast and that there are things I need to learn on the tactical side of the game," reported Zizzo. "That comes with time and learning the German game."

"I don't know how fast I will get into the (first) team. It's up to the coach and it could be a while or even the next game - we will see."

"Our coach is doing a very good job and it's hard for him to make any changes," he said, noting that Die Roten are currently fighting for traction near the top of the Bundesliga table. "Right now, it's important for me to get 90 minute games playing with the reserves team - it is good for me and the teams are not locked."

While getting his schooling in the fourth flight Oberliga, Zizzo is taking all kinds of lessons. A week after scoring his first professional goal at Meppen, he was duped into a red card against Altona.

"There was a foul and then we each got into each other's face," he recalled. "I didn't touch him, but he flopped back and acted like I headbutted him. In the US, you are used to getting into each other's faces, talking with each other and then backing up. The referee thought I headbutted him and I can't really say anything."

With the club enjoying good health this term, Zizzo is playing a right side waiting game behind young veterans with standout experience, such as Jan Rosenthal and Hanno Balitsch.

"Yes, we have a lot of players on our position," he agreed. "It's like a 4-2-3-1 and there are two outside guys of three positions. I could play mainly on the right side. It's hard and we have some guys on the bench who are also very good, but don't play."

Of course, turning pro out of college also gives one a sudden burst of free time. With a new hometown to explore, the flanker tries to ensure that he will not become a couch potato.

"You've always got to watch the TV," cracks Zizzo. "Be careful!"

"You wake up in the morning, just go to practice and you have more time on your hands than you think. If you have only one practice a day, you practice for three hours and then you have nothing really. You've got to find other things to do... you just find things to do and it's fun."

Having made his international debut against Sweden in August, one activity Zizzo can fill time with is plotting his next cap. Naturally, he doesn't expect another call from US coach Bob Bradley until he can break into Hannover's line-up. In other words: all in good time for a student at AWD-Arena university.

"A lot depends on how players do with their club and I haven't got playing time," offered the San Diego native, who is sure to be a key member of Piotr Nowak's 2008 Olympic squad. "There are a lot of guys they are giving the first cap to, which is really nice."

"I think they are trying to get a wide range. He has the core players and then he switches around a lot. Maybe once I get more playing time, I will get more call-ups."

(ASD's Marcel Grzyb also contributed to this feature)