Life moves at you very fast when you are a Premier League and international footballer.

Especially in this unique, mixed-up season.

Alexis Mac Allister was posing for a nice smiley photo with Emiliano Martinez yesterday as they set out to play for Argentina at the World Cup.

That was just 24 hours after they had been opponents in a bad-tempered clash at the Amex.

Mac Allister wasted no time as he fired a shot past the Aston Villa goalkeeper inside one minute.

Martinez wasted plenty as he enjoyed the last laugh with a 2-1 Villa win.

Both will have had to shrug off the emotions and fatigue of club football very quickly as they headed east with Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez.

But Albion’s No.10 can see one factor which links life with Albion and Argentina.

Having adapted his role in the heart of midfield, Mac Allister goes to the Middle East with a real chance of playing time for one of the most fancied teams in the competition.

He said: “To play in a club team and a national team is totally different.

“The club staff and the Argentina staff have totally different ideas.

“With Roberto (De Zerbi) I take a lot of good things.

“I take the courage that he wants us to play every game with.

“They are different in terms of how they want us to play but they share the same courage to play football and enjoy it.”

Mac Allister’s dad Carlos missed out on the 1994 finals having played in the qualifying play-off.

The Albion man has timed his run rather differently, his case for inclusion becoming increasingly persuasive as the tournament has neared.

He is undefeated in his seven international appearances, the last five of which have come since March of this year.

That is not too surprising given Argentina have not lost in their last 35 games.

Throw in the motivation to get a World Cup success for Lionel Messi and the script is a good one.

Too good to be true?

Mac Allister said: “We know how important this World Cup is for him and as a team we will do everything we can to lift that cup.

“We knew it is maybe the last one for him.

“We will do our best to win it.

“The desire is there and you can see how excited the people are in Argentina for this World Cup.

“We had fantastic qualifiers and all the people are really excited about this World Cup.

“We need to calm down a little bit, know there are a lot of fantastic national teams in this World Cup and then try to do our best.”

In terms of what makes Argentina tick, Mac Allister is pretty clear.

He said: “We have the best player in the world. That is the first point.

“We defend and we attack as a team, all together.

“We have a fantastic coaching staff, who have experience of playing in the national team like (Pablo) Aimar, (Lionel) Scaloni, (Walter) Samuel, (Roberto) Ayala.

“They were amazing players and they were very important for Argentina.

“They transmit that experience and that is very helpful for us.”

Mac Allister is far too young to recall Argentina winning the World Cup.

His says his dad has not really spoken to him about it.

But he knows about the legend of Diego Maradona, who powered his nation to glory in Mexico in 1986.

And he knows the legend of the game with whom he will share a changing room.

He said: “Messi is my idol. I always have this conversation with my father.

“He played with Maradona, he loves Maradona.

“But, for me, Messi is the best player in the world.

“It’s amazing. Not just him but a lot of fantastic players in the national team.

“At the beginning I was a little bit nervous when I saw him.

“Then you realise he is a nice guy.

“He is quiet and that shows how humble he is.”

As for World Cup memories, Mac Allister said: “I always remember the goal that Maxi Rodriguez scored against Mexico.

“I have got a lot of memories but that goal was fantastic.”

Had justice been served, Mac Allister would have gone head-to-head with Martinez from the penalty spot on Sunday.

They team up at the Argentina camp in Abu Dhabi this week in the run-up to the global tournament.

Everyone knows who eyes are on with Argentina.

Messi mania has already started at their training sessions.

But Mac Allister can certainly play his part.

He has never been better placed to do so.