Dunk is closing in on full fitness
BrightonandHoveAlbionskipper Lewis Dunk is closing in on full fitness ahead of the Premier League break following his knee injury sustained at West Ham last month.
Itwasalmostunthinkablea few months ago that a fit Lewis Dunk - Albion’s inspirational leader and best defender for the last few seasons - would be scrappingforhisspotinBrighton’s starting XI. But that is now the situation the club captain faces as he returns to full fitness following a knee injury sustained last month in a 1-1 draw at West Ham.
Since Dunk’s injury, Graham Potter’s men have remained defensively sound and embarked on a good run of form that has seen them beat Brentford and Everton, progress in the FA Cup and alsosecureimpressivehomeand away 1-1 draws against EuropeanchampionsChelseaandalso Leicester.
Dunk’s expected return is clearlyawelcomeboostbutthe recent form of defenders Joel Veltman, Dan Burn and Adam Webster has been impressive and Dunk, 30, faces a battle to nail down his spot once more.
“[It will be] very hard and that’swhatyouwant,”saidhead coach Potter. “You want competition and you want players pushing each other because that’s how they will get to the next level. If you just have 11, then everyone knows they are playing. Without competition you can stagnate. You need to push each other and raise the level. Both those guys (Adam Webster and Dan Burn) were fantastic (against Chelsea).
“They were defending big spaces, often in one-v-one situations and it is not just courage, it is an art to defend and they did it really well.”
The form of Webster has been so good since his return from a calf injury, it has prompted calls of an England call-up. Potter added: “He has been fantastic and helps us to build our attacks. He was an important signing for us and an important player.”
Of a potential England callup, Potter added: “He has to be playing in the Premier League regularly to be mentioned in those terms. But in terms of his attributes, I don’t see anybodyelsewiththesamelevelas Adam Webster has.
“If you want to build from the back and carry the ball and progress the game, he is fantastic and that is his quality. It isnowacaseofhimenjoyinghis football with us, keep being on the pitch and being injury free and then anything is possible with him.”