Sidwell: Mac Allister is walking on water

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Argentinian's confidence is clearly sky high according to former Albion midfielder.

Charlie Hanson

2022-09-07T05:00:00Z

Alexis Mac Allister celebrates his free-kick against Leicester City.

Steve Sidwell couldn’t have been any more impressed by Alexis Mac Allister’s recent form for Albion.

The 23-year-old has four goals already this campaign – one short of his total for the whole of last season – with two of those coming in the 5-2 victory against Leicester City on Sunday.

“He’s been brilliant this season,” Sidwell said. “He plays in that pivot role, taking passes from the defenders and spraying the ball around. He’s linking up play, but when he gets the opportunity to drive forward he does, as he did for Leo Trossard’s goal.

Steve Sidwell played 37 times during Albion's promotion winning season to the Premier League.

“He’s been outstanding. He’s playing at the top of his game and you can see that he’s playing with confidence. I am so glad he scored the free-kick because he deserved that.

“He's got the physique to play in that midfield role, he gets around the pitch really well and he reads the game. When you’re playing with that confidence, you feel like you can walk on water and he’s doing that now.”

The Argentina international scored twice in the second half against the Foxes after having an incredible effort from long range ruled out for offside after a VAR check.

“It would definitely have been one of the best hat-tricks you’ve seen,” Sidwell added. “It’s such a shame that his first goal got chalked off but, fair play to him, he showed a great mentality to step up for the penalty and then the free-kick was destined to go in, it was Beckham-esque.

“How you react to that situation of having a goal ruled out depends how your confidence is, but his is sky high at the moment and when you feel like that you can turn around any negative and play well.”

While Mac Allister made the Albion tick on the pitch, Steve is confident that new signing Billy Gilmour can make a similar impression in the coming weeks.

“It’s Billy Gilmour’s first game and he must be licking his lips seeing this team playing. When he gets his opportunity I am sure he will take it, what a talent he is for the football club to bring in.”