LEWIS DUNK has been backed by Albion boss Chris Hughton to shrug off his debut own goal and prove he is Premier League quality.

The central defender impressed on his first outing in the top flight, despite heading into his own net in the opening 2-0 defeat against Manchester City at the Amex.

Hughton said: “It would probably have hurt him more if that had been the winning goal. It’s sometimes a little bit different if it’s the second one. He can take a little bit of solace as such from that.

“He will be a good player for us this season. He has developed really well over the last couple of seasons and I think he will be a very good Premier League player.”

Dunk is the second player to score an own goal on his Premier League bow on the opening day.

The first was Richard Johnson for Watford against Wimbledon in 1999.

Five others have scored debut own goals, two of them also against Manchester City - John Pemberton for Sheffield United in 1992 and Jacob Laursen for Derby four years later.

The other culprits were Chris Swailes for Ipswich against Aston Villa in 1995, Martin Cranie for Southampton against Chelsea in 2004 and Dean Ashton for Norwich against Aston Villa in 2005.