Shane Duffy has paid his Albion partner Lewis Dunk the "highest compliment" by likening him to John Stones.

Skipper Bruno has predicted Dunk will captain Albion and play for England.

Record signing Duffy is raving too after four games next to Dunk (below), who has signed a new five-year deal after the Seagulls rejected a £5 million bid from Crystal Palace during the transfer window.

The Argus: Duffy's former Everton team-mate Stones has become the most prized young central defender in the country, moving to Manchester City for nearly £50 million and breaking into the England team.

Duffy told The Argus: "He reminds me a bit of Dunky. I see similarities between them from when I was playing with him.

"I've said that to a few people. If Dunky keeps going on the way he is I could see him going the same route.

"That's the highest compliment I can give Dunky at the moment, because of how good Stones is."

Duffy, bought from Blackburn Rovers by Albion for around £3.5 million, recognised the potential of Stones when they were together at Goodison Park.

The towering Republic of Ireland stopper was in front initially as he played in the Premier League and Europa League under David Moyes but Stones accelerated past him once Moyes left for Manchester United and Roberto Martinez became manager.

"I got on well with him," Duffy said. "He signed and we played a lot in the reserves together.

"You could tell straight away he was a very good player. The best thing for him probably was Moyes leaving.

"He developed under Martinez into the kind of player he has become, played him at right-back. Moyes wanted more of a defender.

"That's one of the reasons I had to leave. He was that good and he was obviously ahead of me.

"There are no hard feelings about that. I hope he goes on to do well."

Duffy's first two games for Albion ended in 2-0 defeats, at Newcastle before the international break and at home to Brentford when he had a difficult home debut against Brentford's mobile two-goal striker Scott Hogan.

The softly spoken 24-year-old has started to justify his price tag since then, performing impressively with Dunk in successive shut-outs against leaders Huddersfield at the Amex and at Burton Albion last Saturday.

Duffy (below) said: "It takes time. As centre-halves you need to work together. It can't just happen after one or two games. The more you play the more you know each other and build up an understanding.

The Argus: "The last couple of games have been good. I feel comfortable alongside him. He's going to help me and hopefully I can help him.

"We are trying to keep as many clean sheets as we can and it will help if we both click.

"That's what I came here for, to win and keep clean sheets, that's the type of player I am. I like to keep clean sheets and defend well, and the back four has been solid the last two games."

A couple of the opposition players from Stones' home town club Barnsley will be instantly recogniseable to Duffy at the Amex today, including in-form fellow Irishman Conor Hourihane.

The free-scoring Yorkshiremen have hit 19 goals in their opening eight games, the most in the Championship, so represent a big threat to Albion and Duffy's hopes of keeping a hat-trick of clean sheets in the league.

"I know a few of the lads there," Duffy said. "They've surprised everyone. That's what you get with a good manager and team. It's going to be a tough game. We know what we're up against but I'm looking forward to it.

"He (Hourihane) is a great player that's taken this league by storm. I came through with their goalkeeper (Adam Davies) as well at Everton. They've got a good team there but if we play to our potential we'll be strong enough."