Julio Enciso has been given a timely confidence boost – and a gentle reminder to be careful what he says.

The Paraguayan forward has had precious little opportunity of late with Albion.

That could continue to be the case as competition for attacking places heats up.

Fabian Huerzeler has recognised that Enciso carries a weight of expectation with his national team, who are in World Cup qualifying action over the coming days.

Enciso has spoken about his concerns for his national team place due to his lack of Premier League minutes.

Now Gustavo Alfaro, the Paraguay head coach, has told him he need have no such concerns.

And he also appears to have offered a reminder to Enciso about his public comments.

While out of the team, Enciso can go under the radar in England.

But every word or social media offering is picked up on back home.

On arrival in Paraguay this week, he told reporters: “Obviously any player wants to play.

“I am bit sad on this side but thanks to the coach who gives me this confidence because I didn’t expect to be called.

“You need to be competing to be selected.

“I was a bit worried because I’m not playing and I have a lot of team-mates who are playing well.

“I thank the coach and all his staff for having that confidence in me.”

Alfaro, whose side face Argentina and Bolivia in this window, said: "I cannot deprive myself of Julio Enciso's talent.

“Julio is very transparent. I told him the other day, 'Julio, you don't always have to say what you think. Many times, you have to think very carefully about what you say, because anything you say can be interpreted in a thousand ways’."

Alvaro, a veteran Argentinean coach, was previously in charge of Ecuador, where he oversaw the progress of Jeremy Sarmiento and Moises Caicedo and managed the pair, as well as Pervis Estupinan, at the World Cup in Qatar.

Asked for his thoughts on Enciso's progress recently, Albion boss Huerzeler said: "In the end he is still a young player and can improve. He has the responsibility on his back for his country as well.

"He is doing good at the moment, we try to help him and give him the environment to improve and give him the game time.