Albion manager Chris Hughton believes they will benefit from the game time for Alireza Jahanbakhsh with Iran in the Asian Cup.

The winger returned from more than two months out with hamstring trouble by playing for just over an hour in his country's closing group stage draw with Iraq on Wednesday.

The length of the run-out was pre-arranged and Jahanbakhsh is now on course for Sunday's last 16 clash against Oman in Abu Dhabi (5pm).

Group winners Iran will be strong favourites to progress to the quarter-finals at the expense of Oman, who qualified today as one of the four best third-placed finishers.

Albion goalkeeper Mathew Ryan faces fellow group runners-up Uzbekistan in the last 16 with Australia on Monday in Al Ain (2pm).

Hughton said: "From a selfish point of view we would want our two players here back as quick as possible but also you want them to do well. That's the other side.

"Jahanbakhsh hadn't played for a little while before he went. The games will do him good and ultimately that will be good for us.

"Maty is a little bit different because he has been playing regularly for us and we're watching it very closely."