Albion defender Adam El-Abd has been praised for his “perfect” attitude by head coach Oscar Garcia.

The Spaniard regards the Seagulls’ longest-serving player as a role model for the youngsters.

El-Abd has suffered frustration for club and country. He has yet to play for Albion in the Championship this season, due to the consistent form of centre-halves Gordon Greer and Matt Upson.

El-Abd’s inactivity has also cost him his place in the Egypt squad and their World Cup qualifying hopes are over without him after losing 6-1 in the first leg of their play-off against Ghana.

Oscar told The Argus: “He is training very well. I was sad when he didn’t go to play with Egypt because he wanted to have the opportunity to play in the World Cup. It will be difficult because they lost 6-1 but he is the kind of player that is an example to all the young players here.

“He is a professional, he knows the situation. Obviously he wants to play but his attitude is perfect.

“He knows better than other players that it’s a long season. He had this situation also last season but he will have the opportunity to play because he is training well and we have a lot of games to play.”

Oscar has also backed Greer to end his bench frustration with Scotland next month. The skipper has featured regularly in Gordon Strachan’s squad since the end of last season but has yet to make an appearance.

That could change now that Scotland’s World Cup qualifying campaign is over and they face the USA in a friendly at Hampden Park on November 15.

Oscar said: “Hopefully in November he can make his debut with the international team. I am very happy for him.”