Barcelona’s Gerard Pique believes that Jordi Alba deserves a spot in the Spanish national team and has urged head-coach Luis Enrique to relent.

Alba has seemingly been frozen out of the Spain set-up by Enrique, who was his former boss at Barca. Chelsea left-back Marcos Alonso and Valencia’s Jose Gaya have been preferred since the World Cup.

However, 29-year-old Alba backed up a goal-scoring performance against Inter Milan in the Champions League last week with another marauding display to help destroy Real Madrid 5-1 in El Clasico.

“I hope Luis Enrique puts things right and calls up Jordi Alba,” said Pique.

“It’s a pleasure to score so many goals in a game of this difficulty. It gives you a feeling of satisfaction and pleasure and the Barca fans can take haert from it.”

Pique was pleased with his performance after a trying few weeks and confirmed that winning a game of such a big magnitude – without Lionel Messi no less – was huge for the confidence of the team.

“We were confident we could win without Messi, knowing we were better with him. We’re Barca and we have to show that we can play in this team.

“This week has helped us strengthen our game, which is what has won us trophies. I already said the critics took advantage because [my poor form] was wasn’t going to last.

“I know I can have bad games, but I always end up bouncing back.”