Albion boss Chris Hughton is desperate for Lewis Dunk to avoid any more bans this season.

But he still wants his impressive central defender to maintain his competitive edge.

Hughton welcomes Dunk back from his third suspension of the campaign against Burton Albion at the Amex today.

He missed Sunday’s 3-3 draw at Brentford after a red card at Huddersfield, which followed two bans for reaching ten bookings.

Hughton told The Argus: “With Dunky it is about that balance. You definitely don’t want to take away that competitive nature that he’s got.

“He’s a player that wants to win, can get frustrated if things are not going his way, the team’s way.

“But they are good qualities and he shows those good qualities every day, even in training.

The Argus:

Lewis Dunk was sent off after this challenge at Huddersfield

“It is about that balance and experience. He has definitely been better this season compared to last season and the season before.

“I think he is getting better with experience, showing more maturity in aspects of his game and he’s had a very consistently good season, so I think there are far more pluses than negatives.

“But, of course, in that position now, it’s one where we need him on the football pitch for as many minutes as possible.”

Dunk’s availability and formidable partnership with Shane Duffy has become even more important to the promotion push now that Connor Goldson has been ruled out for the rest of the season by a heart issue.

The only other recognised central defender is Uwe Huenemeier, who looked rusty in his first Championship appearance for 14 months at Brentford.

Dunk would miss at least two matches in the run-in if he is sent-off again, three for accumulating 15 cautions.