Potter: Alexis has been great in and out of the team

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Head coach says midfielder's attitude has been spot-on.

Bruce Talbot

2022-01-03T05:00:00Z

Alexis Mac Allister has scored five goals in 44 Premier league appearances for Albion.

Graham Potter was delighted with Alexis Mac Allister’s two-goal performance against Everton - but has been as impressed with the midfielder’s attitude when he wasn’t in the team.

The Argentina international was restored to the side for the Boxing Day win over Brentford and in the space of a week he has helped Albion to seven points out of nine after his double sealed Sunday’s 3-2 win over Everton.

“It just goes to show football changes quickly,” said Potter. “A few weeks ago he would have been disappointed because he hasn’t had the game time, and I understand that. But in fairness to him he has worked hard and because he has been professional when he got the opportunity he performed and that’s what he’s done this week.

“They were two great goals, but his overall contribution was fantastic. It’s important for us that we can get goals from other areas of the pitch and we’re delighted with two goals from Alexis and one from a set-play, it’s important.

“Before the game on Sunday we were thinking ‘can he go again?’ but he’s in a good place. Confidence is high and when you’re in that moment it’s nice to keep going.”

Potter believes the way Mac Allister has come back into the team and had such an influence is indicative of a strong squad.

“Selection is the hardest thing from a coach’s perspective in the Premier League, because you have to have a squad with players that are good enough to play and good enough to start, but you can only pick 11 of them.

“You’ve got to keep everyone motivated and part of what we’re trying to do. It’s a credit to the players and a credit to Alexis that we are doing that. He will have been frustrated, but he’s not let himself get disappointed. He’s carried on working and when he had the opportunity to play he was in a good place to take it.”