Joao Teixeira admits he is determined to get back on the international stage.
But, as Albion take a pause in their up and down Championship season this weekend, the Portuguese prospect is more concerned with making an impression for his club.
Teixeira’s form has been as in and out as that of his team since a brilliant start to life on loan from Liverpool.
At Watford last Saturday it was either up or down, depending whose views you read or listened to.
The boy from Braga split opinion with a performance that was bright and tricky on the ball but saw him frustratingly choose the wrong option at times.
He said he was enjoying the challenge of varying roles along a line just behind the main striker.
And underlying ambitions to do well with Albion remains the desire to get back to a stage to which he had been accustomed coming up through the age groups – international football.
Portugal under-21 boss Rui Jorge told The Argus recently Teixeira was very much in his thoughts for future squads.
But he warned competition was tough given the plethora of talent coming through.
Jorge’s men then went to Holland and won 2-0 in the first leg of their play-off to reach the Euro finals in the Czech Republic next summer.
It was their 13th win in a row which underlines how well Teixeira will have to play to break back into the squad in his last season of eligibility.
“I have always played for the national team,” said the former Sporting (of Lisbon) player.
“Now it’s a year that I’ve not been in the under-21s and of course I want to play for my country.
“Hopefully I will be back. It is hard because we have great young players like my friends in Portugal.
“Some of them play abroad as well.
“But I will keep working to do well for Brighton and get back into the national team.”
Jorge told The Argus he considers Teixeira to be one of the “elite” players from whom he selects squads.
But he is not quite as elite as others for the time being.
Those ahead of him include Sporting sensation Carlos Mane, Monaco play maker Bernardo Silva (who is on loan from Benfica) and Deportivo La Coruna regular Ivan Cavaleiro.
The role just behind the front man occupied by Silva is where Teixeira sees himself playing.
But he was happy to be given a chance on the left when he made his debut at Birmingham City in August and was on the right at Watford last Saturday.
He said: “I play No.10 behind the striker but sometimes they ask me to play more on the right or more on the left. I’m not bothered about it. I just want to play.”
According to stats website whoscored.com, Teixeira dribbles with the ball more often per match than any player in the Championship except Nathan Redmond of Norwich. He is also in the top 15 for providing what the website refers to as “key passes”.
Teixeira is regularly picked out by opposing teams and those who follow them as a player to watch.
There is always the feeling he is about to make something happen.
But he can attract criticism for taking on too much or not selecting the best option.
Former Albion midfielder Warren Aspinall provided an example when working as expert summariser for BBC Radio Sussex at Watford last Saturday.
It is a role Aspinall does well and he made his thoughts clear after the Portuguese was dispossessed ahead of a Watford counter attack late on.
He told listeners: “Teixeira again, he has to know what’s around him when he receives the ball.
“He is trying to take people on when there are three or people around him. Easily taken off him.”
But that is why he is with Albion. To provide spark from the Seagulls’ point of view.
And to learn the game from the Liverpool point of view.
The sign that both are happening might yet come from his international boss as they prepare for a likely place in Euro finals next summer.
Original article
But, as Albion take a pause in their up and down Championship season this weekend, the Portuguese prospect is more concerned with making an impression for his club.
Teixeira’s form has been as in and out as that of his team since a brilliant start to life on loan from Liverpool.
At Watford last Saturday it was either up or down, depending whose views you read or listened to.
The boy from Braga split opinion with a performance that was bright and tricky on the ball but saw him frustratingly choose the wrong option at times.
He said he was enjoying the challenge of varying roles along a line just behind the main striker.
And underlying ambitions to do well with Albion remains the desire to get back to a stage to which he had been accustomed coming up through the age groups – international football.
Portugal under-21 boss Rui Jorge told The Argus recently Teixeira was very much in his thoughts for future squads.
But he warned competition was tough given the plethora of talent coming through.
Jorge’s men then went to Holland and won 2-0 in the first leg of their play-off to reach the Euro finals in the Czech Republic next summer.
It was their 13th win in a row which underlines how well Teixeira will have to play to break back into the squad in his last season of eligibility.
“I have always played for the national team,” said the former Sporting (of Lisbon) player.
“Now it’s a year that I’ve not been in the under-21s and of course I want to play for my country.
“Hopefully I will be back. It is hard because we have great young players like my friends in Portugal.
“Some of them play abroad as well.
“But I will keep working to do well for Brighton and get back into the national team.”
Jorge told The Argus he considers Teixeira to be one of the “elite” players from whom he selects squads.
But he is not quite as elite as others for the time being.
Those ahead of him include Sporting sensation Carlos Mane, Monaco play maker Bernardo Silva (who is on loan from Benfica) and Deportivo La Coruna regular Ivan Cavaleiro.
The role just behind the front man occupied by Silva is where Teixeira sees himself playing.
But he was happy to be given a chance on the left when he made his debut at Birmingham City in August and was on the right at Watford last Saturday.
He said: “I play No.10 behind the striker but sometimes they ask me to play more on the right or more on the left. I’m not bothered about it. I just want to play.”
According to stats website whoscored.com, Teixeira dribbles with the ball more often per match than any player in the Championship except Nathan Redmond of Norwich. He is also in the top 15 for providing what the website refers to as “key passes”.
Teixeira is regularly picked out by opposing teams and those who follow them as a player to watch.
There is always the feeling he is about to make something happen.
But he can attract criticism for taking on too much or not selecting the best option.
Former Albion midfielder Warren Aspinall provided an example when working as expert summariser for BBC Radio Sussex at Watford last Saturday.
It is a role Aspinall does well and he made his thoughts clear after the Portuguese was dispossessed ahead of a Watford counter attack late on.
He told listeners: “Teixeira again, he has to know what’s around him when he receives the ball.
“He is trying to take people on when there are three or people around him. Easily taken off him.”
But that is why he is with Albion. To provide spark from the Seagulls’ point of view.
And to learn the game from the Liverpool point of view.
The sign that both are happening might yet come from his international boss as they prepare for a likely place in Euro finals next summer.
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Original article