Percy Tau: Brighton manager Graham Potter offers Percy Tau Olympics hope

Tau, 26, was recalled to Brighton in January after an impressive loan spell with Anderlecht as the Premier League side finally secured his British work permit, three years after his R50-million move from Mamelodi Sundowns.

The immediate recall was due to the United Kingdom breaking away from the European Union which allowed Tau to qualify for the permit via the points accumulation of playing in the UEFA Champions League with Club Brugge.

Should Tau have remained with Vincent Kompany's outfit until the end of the season, the likelihood of returning to the Seagulls next season would have been slim.

While Potter openly admitted that Tau would be eased into his new surroundings of the English top-flight, he featured in each of their three games immediately upon his arrival on the South Coast.

However, since coming off the bench in the 1-0 win over Leeds on January 16, he was an unused substitute for 10 consecutive league games and the recent international break saw him quarantined for two weeks.

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His unavailability and lack of first-team training saw him miss out on the matchday squad against Manchester United, Everton and Chelsea but as Tau now resumes full training Potter revealed they are open to the idea of him joining up with the national U-23 side in Japan in July.

"I think it is something we will speak with Percy Tau. If a player is selected for his country, we are happy for that," he said.

"We should support that. It's a big moment for him in his career and his family. So I would say yes, I would be happy for him. And then it's about what he wants to do as well."

The Seagulls have often reiterated their belief in Tau's talents but were reluctant to rotate their attacking line-up due to their precarious position in the Premier League.

However, the global platform of the Olympic games could see Tau showcase his abilities for a new switch or potentially give the English club something to think about when he returns for the 2021/22 campaign.

Tau was selected as one of the overage players in the preliminary 40-man squad by national U-23 head coach David Notoane last week.