Facundo Buonanotte wants to make the most of his huge chance as he tackles his first full season in England.
The Argentinean youngster enjoyed valuable playing time on the trip to the USA after sitting out the opening fixture against Chelsea.
He has ambitions for club and country in the months ahead – including a potential World Cup head-to-head with an Albion colleague.
Buonanotte started to find his feet last season after the huge cultural change of swapping life with his home city club Rosario Central for a new challenge in England.
Still only 18, he has also earned his first senior call-ups by Argentina in recent months.
Buonanotte said: “I arrived (on the USA trip) with a problem in my adductor which I’m recovering from.
“But getting minutes is important to prepare myself for the league, where we have to do things as well as we did last season, “It has been crazy. At 18 years of age, to be playing in Europe, with the national team, any boy of my age would love to be in my place.
“I have to make the most of it and I thank my family and my friends who support me and to thank God.
“Thanks to them I am here and I am very happy.”
Buonanotte was one of several players among the 33-man Albion party to sit out the Summer Series opener against Chelsea.
He started the games against Brentford and Newcastle, on each occasion going off just before the hour with his side 1-0 up He said: “I’m very happy for the minutes I was able to play, to gain confidence, to gain rhythm and we keep preparing for the competition.
“The result against Newcastle was a shame but I thought we played well and it keeps us on this good path we are on.”
Buonanotte made his senior international debut over the summer and would love to be in squads when World Cup qualifying begins in September.
He said: “Obviously. I always want to be in the national team.
“I want to do the best I can for my team to attract the attention of the national team.
“It is a dream for me to be in the national team.
“I am proud to wear that shirt and every time I will make the most of it and enjoy being with my team-mates.
“They are the best in the word. They recently won the World Cup and I’m pleased to be with them.”
The Albion teen played down talk that he and Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho are the new stars of the squad, insisting: “No, no. The stars are the ones who are already there, the 23 who were world champions.
“We are new, we are young, we have only recently appeared and we want to gain their confidence to stay there and compete for a place.”
In reality, it would seem selection for the next international squad would in itself be success for Buonanotte.
If that happens, it would also suggest he has made a bright start to the club season.
But there is chance to dream – especially after the sort of year he has had so far.
It was put to him that he could go up against Albion colleagues Moises Caicedo and Pervis Estupinan when Argentina play Ecuador in September.
He revealed: “We haven’t said anything about it yet but I’d imagine the moment will come.
“If I get called up it will be an honour and, if I get to play, I will obviously want to beat them.
“I will be on the same side of the pitch as Pervis.
“So I hope he will let me past him!”
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