Dunk's England Call Up

Brighton & Hove Albion defender Lewis Dunk has been called up to the England squad by Gareth Southgate for the UEFA Nations League fixtures away to Croatia and Spain. 

Brighton-born Dunk — who signed a new five-year deal with the club on Friday — links up with the Three Lions squad tomorrow, before travelling to Rijeka and Seville for the matches against World Cup finalists Croatia and Spain respectively.

Albion manager Chris Hughton said, “We are absolutely thrilled for Lewis, he fully deserves this call up. He has shown his quality in the Premier League and his progression has been a steady and consistent one. 

“He’s improved with every season, and on the back of an impressive first season in the Premier League he continues to progress; I’m delighted he has now been given recognition at international level.”

Dunk is the first Albion player to be called up by England since Steve Foster was part of Ron Greenwood’s squad for the 1982 World Cup in Spain — and only the fourth Albion player to be called up to the senior national team, following in the footsteps of Tommy Cook, Peter Ward and Foster. 

England play away to Croatia on Thursday, before heading to Seville for the Spain game the following Monday, and Dunk will join his colleagues at St George’s Park tomorrow. 

Chairman Tony Bloom added, “This is an extremely proud moment for Lewis and his family, and on behalf of everyone at the Albion I would like to congratulate him on the call up. 

“It is also a very proud moment for the club. Lewis has been with us since he was a schoolboy and we’ve seen his development at close hand - there are many people who have helped Lewis along the way who will be thrilled for him.

“I’m just about old enough to remember the last time an Albion player was called up to the senior squad, when Steve Foster went to the World Cup. It’s been a long time coming, but Lewis has shown that it’s possible to come through at Brighton and reach the very top.”

Chief executive Paul Barber added, “It’s been a good weekend for Lewis: a new contract, man-of-the-match performance and clean sheet on Friday, and now deserved international recognition.

“It’s something he’s worked incredibly hard to achieve and it’s fully deserved because of his on-pitch displays, but we should also take this moment to highlight Lewis’s character he shows off the pitch — he’s become an important member and leader in the dressing room. 

“I’d also like to applaud his loyalty to his hometown club. His ability to play at the highest level is something we’ve believed for a while now, but it’s fantastic he’s made that journey with Brighton, and his form and progress over the past 18 months has finally led to international recognition.”

Dunk made his Albion debut against MK Dons in May 2010, and was part of the squad that won that the League One title the following campaign.

The 26-year-old had a brief spell out on loan at Bristol City in 2013, but returned to become a mainstay in the side.

He helped the club win promotion to the Premier League in 2017, and was hugely impressive in his first full season at the top level of English football; he’s carried that form into the new season, and it’s not gone unnoticed by Southgate and England.