U.S. youth international Christian Pulisic has said the chance to train with Borussia Dormtund's senior team is "a big opportunity" for him.
Pulisic, 17, was promoted to training with the seniors during the Bundesliga winter break, having only joined Dortmund early last year.
Following a successful season in the youth academy, he was promoted in the winter along with teammate Felix Passlack, a promising German talent.
"It's a big opportunity and we are enjoying it," Pulisic told BVB's club TV channel in near-perfect German.
"All the pros are very nice -- they help us all the time. We have to respect the pros, but we also have to give it our all every day and fight hard for our place."
Pulisic played in all Dortmund's friendlies during the winter break and was on target against South Korean side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC last week.
Nuri Sahin, who made the leap from the youth academy to the senior team, told Ruhr Nachrichten he had urged Pulisic to "go into training with the attitude that you believe in yourself and that you want to win your place in the [first] team one day."
Coach Thomas Tuchel said Pusilic and Passlack had been "outstanding" and added: "A door has opened for them now in our small squad. Their positions were created, and one thing can lead to another."