Tomer Hemed could team up with European club football’s king of the assist as he aims to help Israel towards a major tournament.

But Albion’s striker has also been telling fans about his other footballing mission – to play for his club in the Premier League – on his latest trip home.

Hemed and club-mate Beram Kayal are preparing for their nation’s Euro 2016 qualifier with under-rated Cyprus in Jerusalem on Saturday.

A win will secure their play-off place if Bosnia drop points at home to Wales.

Any other combination of results will leave Israel needing some reward in Belgium on Tuesday.

But Israeli fans and media are also intrigued by Hemed’s quest for Premier League football – and his conviction that he can get it with Albion.

Viewed from the other end of the continent, his summer switch from Spain was hard to fathom.

The Israeli public were unimpressed by Hemed moving to a second division club they had never heard of in distant England and he was asked yesterday whether he had considered a return home after leaving Almeria.

The reply was pretty emphatic.

Hemed said: “I always said all the time I’ve got an option in Europe I won’t come back to play in Israel.

“I know that I made the right decision.

“I went to Brighton to be a top striker in the Championship and to lead the team to the Premier League.

“My goal this year is to make the dream come true for the club, the fans and the staff.

“My goal is to be an important player in the Premier League.”

A nation which pays a lot of attention to the Russian Premier League, as well as the top leagues in Western Europe, remains slightly perplexed as to Hemed’s move.

Like club-mate Beram Kayal, he is strongly associated with the last great Maccabi Haifa team back home.

“The level of the second league in England is very high,” Hemed told them.

“England is where soccer is a part of the people.

“The club have helped me and my family from the first minute to feel comfortable.

“Brighton is a city with a great culture and is a great place to live.

“Beram and his family helped us a lot.

“It’s always fun when a childhood friend meets and greets you and you see a recognisable face in a new place.”

For now, though, international duty calls.

Hemed started and scored in the recent home stroll against Andorra but had to come off the bench as his country defended for a point in Wales.

Whether he starts this time depends on coach Eli Guttman’s approach. If he persists with one up front, Moanes Dabour will probably get the nod.

Omer Damari of Red Bull Salzburg is seen as the future of the Israeli attack and is in the running for a place.

But there is a chance Hemed and Dabour will play together, which could be great news for the Albion star.

Dabour has more assists than any player across the European leagues with eight in September alone for Grasshoppers in Switzerland.

Hemed said: “Wales are a very good team in good form. They will be favourites against Bosnia.

“After the game in Wales, Gareth Bale told me they will go to Bosnia to come back with points.”

That last comment led to a slightly misleading headline in Israel suggesting Bale has promised Hemed a Welsh win in Zenica.

Not quite. But then Hemed’s move to England has not been the backwards step many of his compatriots thought.

And that has to be good news for Albion.