Joao Teixeira has been told to seize his big chance at Albion – and earn an international recall.

The Portuguese whizzkid on loan from Liverpool is hoping to return to the Seagulls side against lowly Blackpool on Saturday.

Now he has been handed extra motivation to shine by his international boss.

Portugal under-21s manager Rui Jorge has told The Argus he is keeping close tabs of Teixeira’s progress in regular first team action with a view to recalling him for forthcoming fixtures.

And that could be good news for Albion as the boy from Braga seeks a recall.

Jorge said: “Joao is still one of the players in the elite group from whom we pick our national squad.

“We know he is a quality player but, with the options I have, there wasn’t room for him in the last call-ups.

“We know exactly how he has been playing and his loan move away from Liverpool could benefit him.

“We pick players on the performances they produce, not on which club they play for.

“I would stress to Joao that playing regular football can help a player who we know is good enough to play for our under-21s.”

Portugal, who have won their last 12 matches, face Holland next month in a two-leg play-off to reach the Euro finals.

Teixeira and Adrian Colunga are also competing for recalls to an Albion side whose strikers have not scored in the last three matches.

Fellow frontman Craig Mackail-Smith said: “The chances will come for us. We just need to keep working hard.”