Moises Caicedo has welcomed bold predictions for his future by his Albion boss.

The Seagulls star is set to kick off the World Cup as Ecuador face Qatar in the opening fixture tomorrow (4pm).

He has been spoken of by head coach Roberto De Zerbi as potentially one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and Europe.

Caicedo, 21, told The Argus: “I heard him say this, I saw this and it makes me feel very happy the coach said that.

“It motivates me even more to keep growing.

“Personally, I think I am a very important player, that I’m going to go a long way and that I’m going to be watched by the whole world.

“That’s what I am preparing myself for.

“He is helping me with any detail that I keep growing as a player and a person.”

Caicedo has gone to Qatar a more rounded player after De Zerbi tweaked his midfield role with the Seagulls.

He said: “He likes to pass the ball more through the central midfielders.

“I am a bit further back but I like it.

“I enjoy that they pass the ball through me, that they have that confidence in me.

“Having Alexis (Mac Allister) next to me helps even more because we speak the same language.

“We understand each other very well and I am growing with him.”

Caicedo said losing former boss Graham Potter was a big setback at the time.

He added: “Of course, I think for all the players it was a very tough blow to take because we were very happy with him, with the work we were doing.

“Now I’m very happy with the new coach and what we are doing.

“At the same time, I’m happy for Potter because sometimes these chances only come once and he had the opportunity to go to one of the best clubs on the world.

“I am very pleased for him and his staff.”