Championship Centre-back of the Season: Lewis Dunk

Dunk’s consistency is admirable – seagulls.co.uk

Centre-backs Shane Duffy and Lewis Dunk have been key figures behind Brighton & Hove Albion’s surge towards the promised land.

Duffy thrives at defensive heading, winning 6.1 aerial duels per game according to WhoScored while Dunk has won more tackles (1.7) and interceptions (3.2). With the former’s bravery in the air and the latter’s fine reading of the game, it is hardly surprising that Brighton have conceded just 33 goals.

What perhaps gives Dunk an edge is that he has proved his capabilities at this level for longer. In 14/15, he featured weekly in a Seagulls side that had the second best defensive record outside the top six. His displays the year after, which might have helped his team to promotion on the final day, led many to see him as the best centre-back in the Championship.

He also deserves extra points for loyalty, staying at the club at which he started his career in 2009 despite failure to reach the top flight in that time. Despite various injuries to defenders who have played alongside Dunk, he has reached an admirable level of consistency.

At 25, Premier League football will surely come between now and the end of his career. Increasingly, it looks like that will be with his beloved Brighton.