PROPPER JOB

Davy doubles up

BRIGHTON’S Dutch midfielder Davy Propper has a double New Year’s resolution – to push his team into the top 10 and to beat England.

Propper lines up against Everton at the Amex today with the Seagulls aiming to step up a gear after holding Arsenal 1-1 on Boxing Day. But it won’t only be Albion on his mind in 2019.

Holland have been drawn to face England in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals in Portugal in June so playing against Jordan Pickford and Michael Keane could be a scouting mission.

Propper, 27, said: “It helps being in the Premier League. I can see how the English players are doing and I play against them regularly.

“It wasn’t our best game when we lost 1-0 at home earlier in the year to England but we have all learned from that and we have grown as a team since then. We’ll be better in Portugal.”

Propper has become a major influence at Brighton since arriving from PSV in August 2017 and is part of the revitalised Holland side under new manager Ronald Koeman.

“It’s a good time for us right now with the national team and I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

“We can win, why not? We beat Germany and France to get there so I think we are ready for England.”

Brighton are sitting pretty in their second season in the top flight, 10 points clear of the drop zone.

Propper said: “The starting point is to stay up but we’re capable of higher. The top

10 or even as high as eighth is possible.”

Mat Ryan has headed to the Asian Cup with Australia leaving David Button and Jason Steele vying to replace him, and boss Chris Hughton said: “The goalkeeper who will play is aware he’s playing.”