Julio Enciso asked Albion to play him in the under-21s.

The Paraguay international played the first 45 minutes of the 2-0 win over Anderlecht’s well-organised youngsters this week.

He has been short of Premier League playing time amid hot competition for places in attack.

A week on from being a national hero with his last-gasp leveller for the Albirroja in Bolivia, he was keen to play before a few hundred at the training ground.

Enciso looked eager to work hard and impress and his efforts were appreciated by Fabian Hurzeler.

The Albion head coach said: “I watched him. First of all, I think it's a great thing when a player came by his own to me and ask me if he can play for the under-21s to stay in the rhythm.

“That's a great signal and a great thing that he wants to improve, no matter in which team.

“So now he played for the under-21s, but he's also a very important player for us.

“It's a little bit the same with Evan (Ferguson). They are doing good in training, they are in good shape mentally, physically.

“They both scored for their national team, so they are in great shape. But the others are also in great shape.

“Danny (Welbeck) is in great shape. Joao (Pedro) comes back strong. Georgi (Rutter) is in good shape.

“It's competition. Competition is part of the business, you need to make sure that you're ready when you get the chance, you need to make sure that you try to give everything in training to not let yourself down, to not get yourself in a bad place.

“When there is the opportunity, and I'm sure there will be an opportunity next week because we have a lot of games, make sure that you're ready for this opportunity.”

Hurzeler will be widely expected to start against Southampton with the front four who caused Bournemouth problems.

That would mean Rutter, Joao Pedro and Kaoru Mitoma buzzing around in support of Welbeck.

Yankuba Minteh returns to contention for a spot on the bench.

He was ruled out of the Bournemouth game having been unwell.