Albion are hoping Percy Tau’s trip home can have benefits for player and club alike.

The South Africa international will miss out on a return to Old Trafford this weekend.

He and Albion sacrificed his participation in the Premier League fixture versus Manchester United.

Tau instead joined up with the Bafana Bafana for two crucial African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers and must therefore quarantine for ten days after returning to the United Kingdom.

It is highly likely Tau would have been on the bench against United and the evidence of the last two months suggests he would have stayed there for the 90 minutes.

He has not been used in the league since a fairly haphazard performance late in the 1-0 win at Leeds.

On the other hand, there was the chance for game time and a key role with South Africa.

Tau scored in the 1-1 draw against Ghana but defeat in Sudan meant South Africa missed out on a place in next year’s finals and also led to a change of manager.

Albion boss Graham Potter told The Argus: “He was very keen to go because it’s his country and he wanted to play and it was an important opportunity for him.

“He hasn’t been playing so much for us and he felt it was important for him to get some game time.

“When we weighed it up we knew the negative of the quarantine but, at the same time, we are going to get a player who we feel we have helped to play for his country, which is important for him and for his international team.

“He’s a fit lad and we can help him while he is quarantining.

“We just have to put up with the fact we haven’t got him for ten days.”

Tau played at Old Trafford a little over a year ago when Club Brugge lost 5-0 in the Europa League.

He was lively very early on after linking up with Albion from Anderlecht in January.

But that promise has not really been fulfilled as yet, even as an impact sub.

Reports in Belgium say Anderlecht would be very keen to take him back should it be decided he does not have a future with the Seagulls.

But funding a deal would be a major stumbling block for them.

Still, it is relatively early days for Tau in adapting to a very different country and league.

Potter was asked whether Tau had expressed concerns or misgivings over how that process is going.

He told The Argus: “No, but I think he is aware. He is an intelligent boy.

“He has spoken about the fact it is a big step up in terms of intensity and speed, in terms of every day how the competition within the squad is and then the competition in the Premier League.

“It’s a step he is adapting to and that is part of the process, that’s why he’s here.

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“We just felt at this stage it was important for him to go home, to play for his country, to have that feeling of responsibility and perform there and try and help them and then he comes back in a happy frame of mind, a positive frame of mind ready to help us in the remaining part of the season.”

Albion’s internationals have enjoyed some valuable experiences on their travels.

Leandro Trossard scored twice for Belgium in an eight-goal rout of Belarus, Jakub Moder netted his first goal for Poland in a 2-1 defeat at Wembley and Robert Sanchez will have learnt a lot despite not getting on the pitch for Spain.

Potter said: “Everybody is back from international duty, all the tests have come through and there’s no fresh injuries. It has been a positive international break for us.”