Albion could keep Alexis Mac Allister in an advanced role after he shone in an FA Cup supershow.

The Argentinean midfielder scored twice in the superb 5-1 win at Middlesbrough in the third round as a substitute.

He was a like-for-like replacement at half-time for Adam Lallana, who himself scored from very close range to put his side ahead for the second time in the tie.

German duo Pascal Gross and Deniz Undav were also on target at either end of the contest.

Graham Potter converted Mac Allister into a deeper-lying midfielder this season, something Roberto De Zerbi was happy to continue.

But he was already having second thoughts, even before seeing Saturday’s game, after the player’s performances at the World Cup.

De Zerbi said: “He has the quality to score.

“Before the World Cup, I used him in a midfield position with more responsibility to build the play.

“Now he’s higher and I think higher he can help us to find the last pass, to find the goal, because he knows very well that position.”

Lallana and Mac Allister now come into consideration for longer outings when Liverpool visit the Amex on Saturday.

De Zerbi added: “I spoke to Lallana and Alexis (on Friday).

“Today they aren’t ready to play 90 minutes and in my head the plan was clear.”

Mac Allister looked full of confidence on his longest outing yet since the Qatar final against France.

But De Zerbi said: “He is a strong player in his head and I think he didn’t need the World Cup to have confidence.”