Albion No.1 Mathew Ryan and record buy Alireza Jahanbakhsh are away at the Asian Cup with Australia and Iran.

Andy Naylor reports on how the competition works, how long it lasts for and how it affects the pair's availability for the Seagulls.

When and where is the Asian Cup?

It starts tomorrow and finishes on February 1. It is taking place in the United Arab Emirates.

What is the format?

The tournament has been expanded for the first time from 16 countries to 24. They are split into six groups of four, with the top two progressing to the knockout stages from last 16 onwards, together with the four best third-place finishers.

When are the knockout stages?

Last 16 matches are January 20 to 22, quarter-finals January 24 and 25, semi-finals January 28 and 29, the final February 1.

What is the schedule for Ryan?

The Socceroos start against Jordan in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, 11am UK time.

They play Palestine in Dubai on Friday January 11 (11am) and their final group fixture is against Syria in Qatar on Tuesday January 15 (1.30pm).

What about Jahanbakhsh?

Iran open against Yemen in Abu Dhabi on Monday (4pm). They face Vietnam, also in Abu Dhabi, on Saturday January 12 (11am) and Iraq in Dubai on Wednesday January 16 (4pm).

How many Albion matches will they miss?

Anything between three and six, depending on how far they progress, together with potentially two FA Cup ties.

Ryan had played in all 57 of Albion's Premier League matches before leaving following the Boxing Day draw at home to Arsenal.

Jahanbakhsh has been sidelined by hamstring trouble since the defeat at Everton in early November. Iran are nursing him back to full fitness.

Which games for Albion could be affected?

Bournemouth (a) tomorrow in the third round of the FA Cup, Liverpool (h), Manchester United (a), possibly FA Cup fourth round, Fulham (a) and Watford (h).

What are the prospects for Australia and Iran?

They are both among the favourites.

Australia are the holders after winning the tournament on home soil four years ago.

Iran have won it three times, but not since 1976.

They are ranked 29 by FIFA, 12 places higher than Australia.

Can Iran end the drought?

Jahanbakhsh (below) is a key player for them. They have only lost one competitive game since the last Asian Cup, to Spain.

The Argus: Former Real Madrid and Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz has a strong defence which went 12 matches without conceding a goal during qualifying for last summer's World Cup in Russia, where they were beaten 1-0 by Spain, defeated Morocco by the same score and drew 1-1 with Portugal to narrowly miss out on qualifying from the group.

Can Australia mount a successful defence?

Graham Arnold, Ryan's former coach at Central Coast Mariners, is back in charge.

They are going through a transition, with Mile Jedinak and Tim Cahill retiring since the World Cup.

The Socceroos lost 2-1 in Russia to eventual winners France, drew 1-1 with Denmark and were beaten 2-0 by Peru.

Celtic's Tom Rogic will be important to their hopes, with Huddersfield midfielder Aaron Mooy out injured.

Who are the main dangers?

South Korea are good going forward and have impressed in build-up friendlies. Japan have a young side developing for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

What about other Premier League clubs?

Cardiff goalkeeper Neil Etheridge is not playing for the Philippines, who are managed by ex-England head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson. Etheridge has stayed in Wales to help their relegation fight.

Newcastle lose Ki Sung-yeung and Spurs Son Heung-min (both South Korea). Tottenham struck a deal which enables Son to skip military service. He links up with Korea from their final group match onwards, following the game against Manchester United at Wembley on January 13.

Who cares about the tournament?

Ryan and Jahanbakhsh certainly do. Both are fiercely patriotic. Ryan has described Australia's success four years ago as one of the highlights of his career.

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