"I am enjoying it although I was a bit disappointed with my game on Saturday," he says.
"But I am trying to learn in every game I play, and in training, so it is a new experience and challenge for me."
And the main difference he has found in stepping up?
"The quality of the player around you is different and you really need to concentrate and think about your game.
"It is just a little bit quicker all round than the games in Division Two but I am trying to get things right so I can put in the best performances for me and the team.
"Mentally it is tiring, possibly, and in some games you can come off and feel you have not done anything even though you have put in the same effort and can hardly walk."
He relishes playing at Upton Park - especially if there are a lot of away supporters - and adds:
"It was very good on Saturday; they brought a lot of fans down and there was a big support from our fans - the players in the changing room afterwards were just disappointed they couldn't give them three points."
Looking at the draw with Ipswich he says:
"We were all disappointed but it was a tough game and seven points from three games isn't bad.
"We could have gone in at half time 3-0 or 4-0 up but the keeper has pulled off some world class saves and that's football - if you don't take your chances you are always going to be under pressure.
"The ball was flashing across their goal even in the second half and if you just get a lucky nick on the ball it is in - but it wasn't to be on Saturday.
"You can't worry about it now, all you can do is take the positives out of the game and look to the next one.
"Ipswich play the football the right way and pass the ball round so we had to do some chasing and try and stay solid as a team."
He says there is no blame attached to Teddy Sheringham for the penalty miss, and adds:
"If you play any team and are only 1-0 up they are always in the game but everyone misses chances; when we win it is as a team and when we lose it is as a team.
"You can't blame anyone and we are all pulling in the right direction; if we had won we would have gone joint top but we are still there or thereabouts so we have to keep plugging away."
It was Carl that won the penalty, of course, and he recalls:
"I got there before the keeper and on a slippy surface he has just caught me; I think most referees would have given it.
"It is hard to say if he should have had a card - you would have to ask the referee!"
Carl is ineligible to play in the Carling Cup for West Ham but he says:
"It is a strong squad and I am sure whoever steps in will do a good job; it is a busy schedule at the minute and you need a big pool of players."