Essaid Belkalem’s hopes of travelling to the 2014 World Cup have been boosted as the Hornets centre-back has been selected for Algeria’s 30-man provisional squad.

The 25-year-old has only featured ten times for the Golden Boys since signing on loan from fellow Pozzo-owned club Granada last summer.

However, he has 11 caps for this country and started in the first leg of Algeria’s successful World Cup play-off against Burkina Faso – a game he was sent off in.

Prior to joining Granada and being loaned to Watford, Belkalem spent five seasons playing for JS Kabylie in the Algerian top flight and featured for his country at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

Algeria will face Belgium, Russia and South Korea in Group H at the World Cup in Brazil and their squad will be reduced to 23 players by June 2.

While Belkalem faces a wait to find out if he has been chosen, Arsenal loanee Chu Young-Park will be heading to Brazil. 

The South Korea forward has featured just twice for the Hornets since arriving on loan from the Gunners on January 31. 

But despite not playing since February 22, Park has been selected in their 23-man squad. 

Algeria provisional squad 

Goalkeepers: Izzedine Doukha (USM El-Harrach), Rais M'bolhi (CSKA Sofia), Cedric Si Mohamed (CS Constantine), Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche (USM Alger)

Defenders: Essaid Belkalem (Watford), Madjid Bougherra (Lekhwlya Club), Liassine Cadamuro (Mallorca), Faouzi Ghoualm (Napoli), Rafik Halliche (academica Coimbra), Nacereddine Khoualed (USM Alger), Aissa Mandi (Stade Reims), Carl Medjani (Valenciennes), Djamel Mesbah (Livorno), Mehdi Mostefa (AC Ajaccio)

Midfielders: Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham), Ryad Boudebouz (Bastia), Yasine Brahimi (Granada), Adlene Guedioura (Crystal Palace), Amir Karaoui (Entente de Setif), Medhi Lacen (Getafe), Saphir Taider (Inter Milan), Hassan Yebda (Udinese)

Forwards: Abdelmoumene Djabou (Club Africain), Rafik Djebbour (Nottingham Forest), Sofiane Feghouli (Valencia), Nabil Ghilas (Porto), Foued Kadir (Rennes), Ryad Mahrez (Leicester), Islam Slimani (sporting Lisbon), Hilal Soudani (Dinamo Zagreb).