Dunk near to England plunge
BRIGHTON manager Chris Hughton believes defender Lewis Dunk is heading for an England call-up at his current rate of progression.
“In my time here, which will be three years in January, he has improved season after season and he looks comfortable at this level,” said Hughton.
“That’s for those that decide within the England camp. All I can do is talk about what he has done for us. Dunk is a very good footballer for a centre-half but wants to help the team keep clean sheets and will do whatever he has to do to achieve that.”
Brighton-born Dunk, 25, was called into Stuart Pearce’s England Under-21 squad in 2011 but did not play. But he and defensive partner Shane Duffy, also 25, who both signed longterm deals in the summer, have attracted excellent reviews.
Brighton tomorrow host a Southampton side whose manager Mauricio Pellegrino gave winger Sofiane Boufal a dressing down despite last week’s wonder goal.
Boufal came off the bench to earn Saints a 1-0 victory over West Brom with a goal-of-theseason contender and then ran up to Pellegrino and pumped his chest in front of the Argentine, who had been leaving him on the bench.
“I’ve spoken with him about that celebration,” said Pellegrino.
“It’s private but the only thing I can say is I’m happy with his action on the pitch – how he’s been playing in the last few games, not just the other day. But Sofiane has to learn as a young lad how to manage this reaction.”