Steven Alzate will have international incentive back into the Albion side.

The midfielder has watched from afar as his Colombia colleagues were embarrassed in World Cup qualifiers.

Alzate’s absence has been much debated – and criticised - among fans of the Tricolor if social media is a good guide.

There will be an outcry for changes after the 3-0 home reverse at home to Uruguay was followed by a 6-1 mauling in Ecuador last night.

A run of games in the Premier League over the forthcoming busy period would put Alzate straight back into the squad.

But it is a squad who will come under close public scrutiny next time they get together.

Ironically, the fatigue caused by a trip to South America to play for Colombia was given among the reasons for him losing his midfield place when Prem action resumed with a game at Crystal Palace.

Ben White has established himself in a midfield role since then – even in the absence of Lewis Dunk, when he might have reverted to defence - and formed a solid partnership with Yves Bissouma.

Alzate made a bright start to the season and earned praise for his efforts alongside Bissouma in, most notably, the win at Newcastle.

Colombian commentator Daniel Perez had to offer something of climb-down – or at least clarification – when he was critical of Alzate in his previous international outings.

Their next match is not for another four months when they face Brazil.

To say that Alzate would have prevented either of the two hefty defeats is probably overdoing it a bit.

But there was surprise beforehand he had not been picked given his efforts so far.

Reporter Carlos Zafra, of ESPN Deportes, told The Argus: “I don’t think Steven would have made a difference because the majority of the players were not at the level they were a month ago and that seemed to be catching for those who arrived in good form.

“But that is not to say he wasn’t missed.

“I think he will always have his place because he has a better attitude than other players.”

Alzate has ended up in a vicious circle.

Left out by Albion partly due to a tough fortnight which saw him help Colombia beat Venezuela 3-0 and snatch a 2-2 draw in Chile last month.

And then losing his international place because he was not playing for the Seagulls.

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Zafra added: “That’s why he wasn’t called up – because Queiroz looks a lot at what is going on at the time he is selecting players for the squad or picking his team.

“What matters most to him is that his players are playing (for their clubs).”

Queiroz, the former Manchester United assistant boss, is now under pressure.

He bewildered fans by making a quadruple tactical substitution four minutes before the break when the score was 4-0.

Mateus Uribe, who replaced Alzate in the squad, was among the four players hauled off.

Ecuador’s win was their biggest ever in World Cup qualification – and is being rated among Colombia’s great humiliations.

Alzate’s priority has to be to get his Albion place back and two weeks without a trek to South America may well help that.

Any sort of consistent form between now and March will also see him back in the fray to face Brazil come Springtime.