Brighton's Alexis Mac Allister selected alongside Lionel Messi for Argentina World Cup qualifier squad

Brighton and Hove Albion playmaker Alexis Mac Allister capped a fine week when he was selected for Argentina's 30-man squad for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Bolivia.
Alexis Mac Allister has been included in Argentina's 30-man squad for their October qualifiersAlexis Mac Allister has been included in Argentina's 30-man squad for their October qualifiers
Alexis Mac Allister has been included in Argentina's 30-man squad for their October qualifiers

Mac Allister, who scored his first senior goal for Albion on Thursday during the 4-0 Carabao Cup victory against Portsmouth, will take his place in Lionel Scaloni's preliminary 30-man squad alongside Lionel Messi.

Argentina's World Cup qualifying for Qatar 2022 was due to begin in March, but was delayed until October due to coronavirus.

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Scaloni's men have not played since November but face Ecuador in Buenos Aires on October 8 and travel to Bolivia five days later.

Alexis Mac Allister scores his first senior goal for BrightonAlexis Mac Allister scores his first senior goal for Brighton
Alexis Mac Allister scores his first senior goal for Brighton

Mac Allister, 21, made his international debut against Chile last September and is determined force his way into contention for the qualifiers.

The Brighton man of Irish and Scottish descent is joined in the squad by Barcelona star Messi, Juventus forward Paulo Dybala and Inter striker Lautaro Martinez.

Former Arsenal goalkeeper and Brighton summer target Emiliano Martinez could make his debut following his move to Aston Villa.

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Mac Allister's fine goal-scoring display against Portsmouth, coupled with an injury concern to summer arrival Adam Lallana, could see the Argentine get a chance as Brighton travel to Newcastle on Sunday.

"Alexis attacks the box really well and he is a really good finisher," said Albion head coach Graham Potter after the Carabao Cup victory. "We see it all the time in training.

"He is another one who is adapting to a new country, a new team and he is one who will get better and better the longer he is here.

"He has got some good qualities and one of those is attacking the box and scoring. His character, his attitude is tremendous and he'll be a good player for us."

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Argentina squad: Agustin Marchesin (Porto), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Juan Musso (Udinese); Marcos Acuna (Sevilla), Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille), Juan Foyth (Tottenham),

Walter Kannemann (Gremio), Facundo Medina (Lens), Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City), Nehuen Perez (Atletico Madrid), German Pezzella (Fiorentina), Renzo Saravia (Internacional),

Nicolas Tagliafico (Ajax); Joaquin Correa (Lazio), Rodrigo De Paul (Udinese), Nicolas Dominguez (Stuttgart), Alejandro Gomez (Atalanta), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham),

Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton and Hove Albion), Lucas Ocampos (Sevilla), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Leandro Paredes (Paris Saint-Germain), Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis);

Lucas Alario (Bayer Leverkusen), Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Lautaro Martinez (Inter), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Cristian Pavon (LA Galaxy), Giovanni Simeone (Cagliari).