Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo has explained why he wears a gum shield during matches.
The 30-year-old Japan international was a a £12million arrival from Stuttgart and quickly attracted attention, but not because of his displays on the pitch.
Premier League fans soon noticed that he was wearing a gum shield, something normally worn in sports such as rugby to protect the teeth.
And Endo has revealed that there is more to it than simply looking after his nashers.
He told Sky Sports: 'when I was in Germany I met a Japanese dentist. He told me to put mouthpiece makes something difference about performance.
'Now I just put to protect my teeth. Also it looks like a fighter. So when I go into the pitch I just put mouthpiece on and it's like game on.'
Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo has explained why he wears a gum shield during matches
Endo was viewed as something of a stop-gap solution to the club's lack of defensive midfielders following Fabinho's unexpected departure to Saudi Arabia.
The 30-year-old started just two of his side's opening 14 Premier League matches but has started all of the last three.
Speaking earlier this month, he said: 'yes, it's harder than I thought, but I'm very happy to be here,' he said when asked about his experience of the Premier League so far.
'Physically, it's speedy, so it's very hard to adapt but it's the Premier League and I keep trying and keep playing and I'll get better.
'I'm already 30 years old but I feel I have a chance to grow as a football player so I'm so happy to be here and I can improve.
'After I got here I had a talk with the boss about how Liverpool play. After that I just try to do that and he talks a lot with me about it.
'Every time I try to help Liverpool play and of course I always watch what they do from the bench. I think it is an important thing and I am getting better and better.'
Endo's start to life at Anfield was not helped by the fact as the only holding midfielder there was a lot of attention on him to slot straight into the side and perform a similar role to the one that 30-year-old Fabinho did for five years.
In addition, Liverpool's midfield underwent a complete overhaul in the summer with Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch now looking like the established first choices.