Gaetan Bong is relishing a man-to-man battle with “legend” Wayne Rooney as Albion bid for a hat-trick of home wins in the Premier League.

The former Cameroon international left-back is in contention to tackle Rooney and Everton at the Amex on Sunday following his top flight debut in the Seagulls’ last outing at Arsenal.

Rooney spent part of the international break on community service at a garden centre.

The ex-England captain and Manchester United star was banned from driving for two years last month after admitting a drink-drive charge.

Bong told The Argus: “He is more than a big player, he is a legend. Even though I am not English I know about football and anyone in the world knows about Wayne Rooney.

“Everyone is happy for him because he is back at Everton, his team.

“I can’t wait to enjoy challenging him. I like going into a fight properly, man against man.

“It’s a good challenge for every player, every defender, to play against Wayne Rooney and enjoy the game. When I say enjoy it that doesn’t mean playing like a kid, playing like a man, enjoy every single thing we are doing, every pass, every shot, every challenge. I can’t wait.”

Bong joined Albion in June 2015 following spells with three clubs in France and Olympiacos in Greece. He has arrived in the Premier League a year later than he expected after recovering from a muscle injury and ousting Markus Suttner at the Emirates.

Bong, 29, said: “It was a long wait. I’m happy, because since I signed for Brighton that was the objective for the club and for me as well. We still have a long way to go.

“I was expecting things to happen one year earlier. Even when I signed I remember the first meeting with the gaffer. I played a couple of weeks before against Brighton (for Wigan).

“We were talking and I asked him personally what he wanted to do. I was at Wigan for three months and I was expecting a good challenge.

“I could have gone back to play in France and I had some opportunities. He told me he wanted to build a team with players like me, not somebody who has already done it before or has an injury or bad experience.

“When I signed I was expecting to go into the Premier League. We did well, we were unlucky the first year and missed the chance. One year later we made it.

“We are lucky because we can enjoy it, show every single game what we can do. I was injured but now I’m back, happy, feeling strong and good.”

Albion beat Newcastle and West Brom in their last two home games. They have won three in a row at home in the top flight twice before, against Sunderland, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace in December 1980, then Arsenal, Sunderland and Birmingham in September 1982.