South Africa men's national team coach Hugo Broos has advised Brighton and Hove striker Percy Tau to find a new club, in order to get more time on the pitch.
Tau signed for the Seagulls nearly three years ago but has seen minimal game time for them. For much of his time under their employ, he played in Belgium on loan at various clubs due to work permit issues.
Then, after being recalled to England in January 2021 after excellent efforts in the Jupiler League, he spent the bulk of the rest of the Premier League season on the bench.
Tau made only three Premier League appearances after he returned to Brighton, and it is speculated that he is on the brink of signing with Al Ahly, where his former Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane is the boss.
So while Broos has named the forward in his squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers, he has warned that he wants his players on the pitch rather than the sidelines, especially those in Europe.
Broos told the media on Thursday: "Percy Tau, I hope, I hope he can leave Brighton and that he can go to a (new) club.
"There is talk about Egypt, Pitso [Mosimane] who is in Al Ahly; it should be a very good thing for him because there he has a coach who knows him."
He added: "I hope that the players who are in Europe are playing.
"There are already a few players who changed clubs. Hopefully, for them, it's a good thing and that in their new clubs they can play more.
"I heard the critics already in May when I came here, [asking], 'Why are the players in Europe not selected'.
"I hope that will change and that we can really select players who are playing most of the games in their clubs."
Bafana Bafana will face Zimbabwe in Harare on Sept. 3, and Ghana in Johannesburg on Sept. 6.
Squad:
Goalkeepers
Ronwen Williams (Supersport United FC), Veli Mothwa (AmaZulu FC), Bruce Bvuma (Kaizer Chiefs FC), Sifiso Mlungwana (Golden Arrows FC)
Defenders
Sydney Mobbie (Mamelodi Sundowns FC), Rushine De Reuck (Mamelodi Sundowns FC) , Thapelo Morena (Mamelodi Sundowns FC), Siyanda Xulu (Haopel Tel Aviv FC, Israel), Thibang Phete (Os Belenenses, Portugal) , Thabani Dube (Kaizer Chiefs FC), Njabulo Ngcobo (Kaizer Chiefs FC), Mosa Lebusa (Mamelodi Sundowns FC), Sibusiso Mabiliso (Kaizer Chiefs FC), Innocent Maela (Orlando Pirates FC)
Midfielders
Kobamelo Kodisang (FC Braga B, Portugal), Sipho Mbule (Supersport United FC), Teboho Mokoena (Supersport United FC), Mothobi Mvala (Mamelodi Sundowns FC), Sphelele Mkhulise (Mamelodi Sundowns FC), Sphephelo Sithole (Os Belenenses FC, Portugal), Njabulo Blom (Kaizer Chiefs FC), Ethan Brooks (TS Galaxy), Yusuf Maart (Sekhukhune United FC), Siyethemba Sithebe (AmaZulu FC)
Forwards
Thabiso Kutumela (Mamelodi Sundowns FC), Bongokuhle Hlongwane (Maritzburg United FC), Gift Links (Aarhus GF, Denmark), Evidence Makgopa (Baroka FC), Victor Letsoala (Bloemfontein Celtic FC), Percy Tau (Brighton and Hove Albion FC, England), Luther Singh (FC Copenhagen, Denmark)