Roberto De Zerbi has described Lewis Dunk as one of the best defenders in the Premier League as the Albion skipper prepares to make his 400th appearance for the club in tonight’s FA Cup fifth round tie at Stoke City.
Dunk still has some way to go to beat Tug Wilson’s record of 566 games but he is close to overtaking Kerry Mayo (413) and Gary Hart (417) in the all-time list.
“For me, it’s difficult to see how he has never played for a big team in the Premier League because if you ask me what I think about him, I would say he is one of the best defenders in the Premier League. I know well his potential and his standard of performance.
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“He is a very big personality on the pitch and a good guy because in the training I observe my players every day.
“He always helps the young players to understand about being inside the Brighton environment.
"If you speak about Dunk as a player, and his personality, technical quality and power he is complete.”
De Zerbi says Dunk makes just as important a contribution before a game as he does when the whistle blows.
“He is a positive guy, before every game and every training session. He is a secret of Brighton, like Adam Lallana. In terms of mentality and behaviour inside and outside the pitch he is one of our most important players.”
Albion’s top 10 appearance makers
566 |
Wilson, Tug |
491 |
O'Sullivan, Peter |
488 |
Gall, Norman |
443 |
Longstaff, Bert |
436 |
Wilson, Glen |
430 |
Farrell, Bobby |
424 |
Tennant, Des |
417 |
Hart, Gary |
413 |
Mayo, Kerry |
399 |
Dunk, Lewis |