Albion loanee Alexis Mac Allister is hoping for playing time off the bench for Argentina.

The attacking midfielder on loan with Boca Juniors is in the squad to face Neymar-less Brazil in a friendly in Saudi Arabia today (5pm GMT).

Headlines have been taken by return of Lionel Messi after suspension.

But Mac Allister could have some involvement after being promoted from the under-23s.

Argentina have been training in Mallorca before heading to the Middle East.

Mac Allister is on loan at Boca for the season and his father and agent Carlos recently revealed he expects that to remain in place.

He said: “It looks like he needs to finish the season, enjoy what it means to play for a club like Boca, demand more of himself every day, try to play for the national team and, when June finishes, he goes to Brighton.”

Mac Allister could be called in by Argentina under-23s to play Olympic qualifiers in January.

He has fared well since moving to Boca although so have the club he left, Argentinos Juniors. The two are level on points at the top of the table.