Lewis Dunk signs new five year Brighton deal just days after Manchester City own goal

BRIGHTON have given locally-born defender Lewis Dunk a huge vote of confidence – just five days after he scored an own goal on his Premier League debut as the Seagulls lost 2-0 at home to Manchester City.

Lewis Dunk was given a confidence boost after his Manchester City own goal with a new contractGETTY

Lewis Dunk was given a confidence boost after his Manchester City own goal with a new contract

Dunk, 25, was handed a new five year contract and an England endorsement from manager Chris Hughton as Brighton tied down three key men to long-term deals. Anthony Knockaert , the 2016-17 Championship player of the season, also signed for another five years and Ireland defender Shane Duffy four.

Brighton turned down big bids for Dunk in each of the last two summer transfer windows, and after he helped the club win promotion to the Premier League, team-mate Liam Rosenior tipped him to make the England squad.

Hughton did not disagree when asked yesterday whether Dunk – a non-playing member of the under-21 squad in 2011 – could make Gareth Southgate’s senior squad.

“When I put him up against some of the players in this division of similar ages, then yes, I think he’s a player of huge potential,” said Hughton.

“It’s a big season for him because this is first season at Premier League level. We almost look at him as a young player because he’s inexperienced at the top level. But on the other side, this is a player that’s been playing regularly for the last five years, 170 league games, so he has a lot of experience of playing.”

That experience helped him clean up his disciplinary record last season – 13 yellow cards by February 14 but only one after that.

“I certainly had conversations with him, but most of it has to be down to himself,” said Hughton. “And he’ll need to do the same this season.”

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