Alexis Mac Allister has reached the highest summit football has to offer in the last few months.

What he did in Qatar - not just being in the Argentina squad but serving as a driving force - can never be taken away.

But it feels like he is just a few clinical finishes away from taking his game to soaring new heights.

That has to be massively exciting - if also frustrating at the moment.

The versatile midfielder has played further forward of late for Albion.

That role helped him score from close range at Elland Road on Saturday.

It saw him play an important role in his team’s second goal.

And it got him into a prime position right on half-time from which to land a massive blow to Leeds’ increasing self-belief.

He held his head in his hands as his attempt to pass the ball into the net with the right instep instead slithered wide of the post.

That’s the missing bit at the moment. The hardest bit. Reliable finishing.

Mac Allister thumped home a penalty at home to West Ham.

But his driving runs and clever movement have brought several good chances in open play, not least against this week’s opponents Crystal Palace.

If it feels harsh to pick up on chances which got away, then maybe it is.

But his touch, intelligent movement, appreciation of what is going around him and his downright stubborn determination are all a joy to behold.

Imagine the complete attacking midfielder he would be with just a half-decent conversion rate when, with team-mates’ help, he gets into those great positions?

Roberto De Zerbi seems happy with Mac Allister in that advanced role.

The Albion head coach said at Elland Road: “He played very well. He played better.

“I that position maybe is the best position for him.

“And we discovered Pascal Gross in a midfield position and we had good balance in that position."

Can he score more often?

“Yes, of course, but I am speaking about not only goals.

“Not only shooting but I am talking about the last pass.

“He has quality to score and to make assists.”

Mac Allister in theory plays off the frontman, as a No.10, but at times he and Evan Ferguson are next to each other, both looking to drag centre-backs out of position.

Defender Joel Veltman said: “Sometimes he is playing like a striker but then he will come on to the ball and drops it into the six and then we have everything in front of us.

“He can read the game really well.

“From his experience with the World Cup as well he can do even better.”

Mac Allister has had 18 goal attempts in his last four Premier League games, one of which was a penalty.

That is brilliant. There have been times in recent years when Albion have been accused of being shot-shy and trying to walk it in.

Even then, there were a couple of times when he might have let fly rather than trying to be unselfish.

For example, when he looked to set up Gross with a backheel early in the Leeds game.

Those basic numbers do not tell you how good the openings were or at what stage of a match, one-sided or evenly contested, they came.

Such as the late header at Selhurst Park which flashed inches wide or that side-footer at Leeds.

The great news is all of this threat is coming without any reduction in his midfield industry and team play.

Take, for example, his work in the build-up to the second goal at Leeds.

He did there what he has done so well for club and country in committing defenders and releasing a team-mate in space.

History tells us he will take the next big step – as he has risen to various challenges in a short but eventful career so far.

The result, when it comes, will be explosive.