Alireza Jahanbakhsh wants to emulate Albion colleague Matthew Ryan - by winning the Asian Cup.

Keeper Ryan lifted the trophy with Australia on home soil four years ago.

Jahanbakhsh's Iran are favourites to win the 2019 tournament, now underway in the United Arab Emirates.

The three-time former champions have not triumphed since 1976 but are strongly fancied after drawing with Portugal and running Spain close in the World Cup finals group stages in Russia last summer.

Jahanbakhsh (below) said: "The Asian Cup is big for us. Yes we made the world Cup finals for the past two tournaments, for the first time in our history, and of course it was nice for the people and a great experience for the players to be facing Spain and Portugal, but the Asia Cup is different.

The Argus: "We have been the top ranked team in Asia for the past two or three years so there is a big expectation on us - and we will have a lot of Iranian fans coming to the UAE to watch us.

"We are ranked one and we have to show it. It's also important because we haven't been champions of this competition for many years. Maty Ryan won it last time with Australia so hopefully it's us this time!"

Jahanbakhsh, Albion's £17 million record buy from AZ Alkmaar in Holland last summer, is one of Iran's biggest stars, but the unassuming winger likes to keep a low profile.

He said: "The people back home love their football and following the players who play for the national team abroad.

"They always show their love and their encouragement, which is very nice and appreciated, but it's nothing like David Beckham!

"When I go back to my home town in the north of Iran, people will come up and talk to me and take pictures, and it's the same at the airport, but it's nothing out of control.

"I've never craved the attention anyway. I prefer to keep a low profile, to chill when I'm back home and hang out with my family and friends where there's not a lot of people.

"Of course when I'm with the national team there's more interest, with the fans wanting pictures and autographs but I'm always happy to do that because I was a fan once."

The Argus: Jahanbakhsh (above) believes the reservations about his home nation in the West are misplaced.

He said: "People believe what they're told in the media and by politicians but Iran is a very beautiful country.

"My parents and best friends are still living there and they are just loving life.

"Where I come from, we have beautiful countryside, the beach is lovely and we have modern and vibrant places to visit.

"Of course we're an Islamic country with certain rules and while the economy is a little up and down at the moment because of the politics with the West, everyone is living together with no problems and in my opinion it is a safe country - the safest in that region.

"How Iran is perceived depends on through which eyes you are viewing it."