PUNTERS are backing Albion central defender Lewis Dunk to force his way into England’s World Cup squad.

Dunk’s odds have plummeted from 25-1 to 11-1 to catch Gareth Southgate’s eye and be on the plane to Russia next summer.

It follows his impressive start to the Premier League season, which continued in Sunday’s 1-1 home draw against Everton.

The Argus flagged up Dunk’s England credentials last week.

A spokesman for Oddschecker, who monitor prices across all bookmakers, told The Argus: “Lewis Dunk has seen his odds shorten dramatically after some excellent performances and a surge of bets on him in the market.

“Since Sunday’s game, Dunk has led the betting in an impressive manner on the market, accounting for 19.7 per cent of all bets on players to make the squad. Tammy Abraham and Jamaal Lascelles are other promising youngsters who punters have been tipping, but they have accounted for far fewer bets than Dunk.”

Dunk’s defensive partner Shane Duffy faces a race to be fit for Albion and the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup play-off over two legs against Denmark next month.

A groin injury forced him off in the latter stages of Sunday’s 1-1 draw against his old club Everton at the Amex and he is a major doubt for Friday night’s trip to West Ham (8pm).

Seagulls midfielder Oliver Norwood, on loan to Fulham, faces Switzerland in the World Cup play-offs with Northern Ireland.