When Lewis Dunk was overlooked by Gareth Southgate for his latest England squad, the focus was on the first-time call-ups of James Tarkowski and Alfie Mawson.

The bigger obstacle to Dunk's international aspirations will be in opposition at the Amex today.

Although there are many parallels between the pair, Harry Maguire is a step ahead of Dunk.

He has made more than twice as many appearances in the Premier League. Maguire has proved himself at the top level over a longer period, a crucial consideration for Southgate in the vexed question of which central defenders should be on the plane to Russia for the World Cup finals this summer.

A spot for Maguire looks assured. Dunk's time could still come but he will have to wait another four years, or two for the next European Championships.

The careers of Dunk (below) and Maguire have followed similar paths. Both came through the system at their local clubs, Dunk with Albion, Maguire with Sheffield United.

The Argus: Both were schooled in League One and the Championship, in Dunk's case exclusively with the Seagulls apart from a couple of appearances for Bristol City.

Maguire's education was with the Blades, a longer loan spell at Wigan and at Hull.

Two seasons ago they were virtually neck-and-neck in the Championship promotion race.

While Dunk missed out on automatic promotion with Albion to Middlesbrough and then to Sheffield Wednesday in the play-offs, Maguire helped Hull overcome the blue half of his home city in the Wembley final.

From that moment, Maguire has edged in front. Hull's Premier League stay lasted only a season but he made a heavyweight impression to match his heavyweight frame.

Leicester bought him for £17 million last summer and he has been instrumental at the back in their challenge for a Europa League spot (the team finishing seventh will qualify if Southampton do not win the FA Cup).

Dunk has been just as pivotal to Albion's bid for survival in their debut campaign amongst the elite.

The value of the duo to their respective clubs is demonstrated by the extent to which their managers, Chris Hughton and Claude Puel, depend on them. They are two of only six outfield players in the Premier League to have played every minute of every match.

Both, first and foremost, are powerful defenders, physically imposing, strong in the air and the tackle.

They are also comfortable with the ball at their feet and have demonstrated a good range of passing. This is important to Southgate and explains why Chris Smalling has dropped out of contention.

The Argus: Maguire (above) was handed his international debut against Lithuania last October, when Dunk's top flight pedigree was still at the embryonic stage.

Former Albion and Scotland centre-half Adam Virgo, a summariser for BT Sport and talkSPORT, said: "I did Leicester in the FA Cup against Peterborough. Claude Puel made loads of challenges but he had him (Maguire) in there as the centre-half that wins his headers, defends first and then plays out from the back.

"He did well but I've spoken to one or two Leicester people and there are still areas. I think Lewis has got better pace than him and that's an area where Harry could possibly get found out a little bit in one-on-one situations.

"It was timing again with him move. It was breaking up a solid partnership with Huth and Morgan when they won the Premier League and I think the move has done him a power of good.

"He left a club that was going one way at Hull but Lewis is at a club where things are going really well at the moment.

"I think him and Maguire, there's not a lot of difference. Lewis has got more pace. They are both decent on the ball. If you stuck Lewis in the Leicester defence instead of Maguire I don't think there would be a lot of difference.

"Harry got the move to Leicester, a big price tag, and that culminates in a lot more interest from the England manager.

"Timing is everything and I don't know if the timing was just right for Harry and he has just got in front of Lewis at a certain time.

"But we have seen his (Dunk's) qualities. When we saw Lewis in the Championship he has always been spoken about as a Premier League player. I think he has delivered and that shows he can handle the pressure."

Lewis Dunk in the PL

Age: 26

Height: 6ft 3ins

Weight: 13st 8.5lbs

Appearances: 30

Goals: 1

Tackle success: 53%

Clearances: 173

Passes per match: 40.53

Accurate long balls: 129

Harry Maguire in the PL

Age: 25

Height: 6ft 3.5ins

Weight: 15st 7.5lbs

Appearances: 62

Goals: 4

Tackle success: 74%

Clearances: 293

Passes per match: 41.34

Accurate long balls: 232