Alexis Mac Allister Could Be Brighton's Saving Grace in Relegation Dogfight

​Brighton's new arrival Alexis Mac Allister could be, and I stress could be, their saving grace as they battle to retain their Premier League status.

Having such high expectations for a player who has never played at a level as high as the Premier League may seem like it would bring a lot of pressure with it - and trust me it will - but I believe that Albion's new number ten has what it takes to deliver the goods and ultimately be the man who brings them to the next level.

Brighton have been struggling for months now, and when I say struggling I mean struggling. They've had problems all over the shop, with four clean sheets in their last 24 ​Premier League outings signposting a clear weakness, and one of the worst conversion rates in the top flight being another. In fact, these issues have led to the Seagulls being the only remaining side in the English football league to have not won a single match in 2020. Now that's bloody woeful.

It's all well and good keeping hold of the ball, and they've done that impeccably as Graham Potter's team have completed the fourth highest number of passes in the entire division, but you simply need to be able to create and convert chances to get results, and ​Brighton haven't done that enough. That's why the creative Alexis Mac Allister could be the man to help them thrive.

Signing from Argentinos Juniors in January 2019, the midfielder has been unable to play for Brighton until now due to issues with attaining a work permit in the UK. He has therefore been plying his trade for Boca Juniors on loan before a permit was granted and he was subsequently recalled in the 2020 January window.

Seagulls supporters would have to wait a further five weeks before his eventual arrival into the matchday squad though, as the 21-year-old was on international duty for Argentina Under-23s, battling with the likes of Colombia and Brazil for a place at the 2020 Olympic games.

On Saturday, Mac Allister finally made his debut in blue and white, as he featured off the bench in a 0-0 stalemate at Wolverhampton Wanderers. His first appearance came a remarkable 14 months after he had put pen to paper on a four-year deal with the club, but now he has the opportunity to shine with a key run of fixtures ahead.

I'd say that Albion probably have the worst run-in of those in the relegation fight, as they still have to face four of the top five in their remaining nine fixtures. One positive to take here though is the fact that the games against Manchester City, ​Liverpool, Arsenal & Manchester United will all be played at home.

With so many of the upcoming opposition focusing heavily on keeping the ball and dominating fixtures, it will be key for Brighton to have an individual or collective of players who are capable of quick thinking and delivering under pressure on the counter attack. As proven on many occasions for Boca this season, and also for the Argentina senior squad in which he has made two appearances in 2019/20, 'the Mac' has these qualities in abundance.

He assisted goals in back-to-back games against tough opposition in the Argentine Superliga in Estudiantes and San Lorenzo, boosting Boca's title hopes. He also scored against CA Unión in a 2-0 victory in November, and his efforts have been rewarded as Boca pipped River Plate to the post on the final day, winning the Superliga in style.

It's safe to say that Mac Allister is used to dealing with pressure on big occasions, as he featured in an intense 1-0 victory over River Plate in the Copa Libertadores semi-final second leg and also helped his side hold their bitter rivals to a 0-0 draw in the league in September. His work ethic in these fixtures and others throughout the season has been second to none, and he always seems to make the right pass with a perfect weight when it matters most.

Brighton's midfield duo of Aaron Mooy and Pascal Groß have been relied upon in the past for their set piece delivery but their success from these positions in recent months has been consistently poor. 

Mac Allister took a couple of free kicks for the Seagulls late on against ​Wolves and caused some trouble for goalkeeper Rui Patricio. If anything, it was the tired legs of his teammates that meant that none of his dangerous crosses were converted.

Mac Allister has the potential to be the Seagulls' new creator-in-chief, and what a time to try to prove himself as they look to secure a fourth successive season in the Premier League.