Brighton's Chris Hughton says World Cup invaluable to Mat Ryan and Jose Izquierdo
Friday 11 May 2018 15:24, UK
Brighton manager Chris Hughton says taking part in the World Cup will be an "honour" for Mat Ryan and Jose Izquierdo.
Ryan, who is Brighton's No.1, has been named in Australia's 32-man preliminary squad and could be joined by Colombian winger Izquierdo after both sides qualified for this year's tournament.
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Hughton has suggested the chance to play in Russia could be "one of the best his players will get to experience".
He said: "It is a great opportunity for Ryan and Izquierdo and it is great for the club as well. Any involvement in international football is certainly an honour for the players but also an honour for the club.
"It speaks well of what we do here and at any club but of course to go to a World Cup is special for the likes of Maty and Jose and any involved here.
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"I think if you are perhaps an England, Spanish or Italian international, generally you are going to be at most World Cups.
"With all due respect to Australia, they might miss out on the next one, same with Colombia."
Ryan represented his nation in the Brazil 2014 World Cup, playing in all three games before they were eliminated in the group stages following losses to the Netherlands, Chile and Spain.
Izquierdo received his first call-up in June 2017 and scored his first goal against Cameroon. Both players have previously played together at Club Brugge.
"I will be watching the World Cup, what I won't do is go to any games and any I do miss out on on the TV, I'm not going to lose much sleep over," added Hughton.
"I think if you are involved in football you have to watch it. Many World Cups ago, managers, coaches and scouts would be looking at players to see how they do in a World Cup and the recruitment process would have started.
"But I think the way recruitment is done now, I don't think there will be too many performances in a World Cup that will make any clubs make a decision on players. Most of the decisions and that knowledge is already known."
Brighton face Liverpool on Sunday at Anfield, live on Sky, in the final game of the Premier League season with Jurgen Klopp's side needing a point to obtain Champions League football.
