Lewis Dunk has been told he is just as good as England newcomers James Tarkowski and Alfie Mawson.

Albion partner Shane Duffy believes it is "only a matter of time" before Dunk joins him on the international stage.

Dunk has been overlooked again by Gareth Southgate for England's friendlies against the Netherlands in Amsterdam next Friday and Italy at Wembley four days later.

There was no call-up either for Albion's 34-year-old marksman Glenn Murray, despite his prolific form and the absence through injury of Harry Kane.

Burnley's Tarkowski (below) and Swansea's Mawson have been preferred to Dunk as centre-half options. They are in Southgate's squad for the first time alongside Harry Maguire and John Stones.

The Argus: There is no place for Gary Cahill or Chris Smalling, who Dunk faces in tomorrow night's FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Duffy is not surprised by Tarkowski's inclusion but thinks Dunk is unlucky to miss out once more.

The Republic of Ireland international told The Argus: "He (Tarkowski) has been excellent as well and he probably deserves it with his performances. He's been brilliant.

"But knowing Dunky personally and playing alongside him, I feel he is just as good as any of them in that squad.

"It's hard. Burnley are doing so well in this league and he (Tarkowski) deserves it. I'd be thinking there is not much between the two players at all and personally I'd have Lewis, because I know him.

"He won't be too down. He'll keep doing his levels and I am sure it is only a matter of time before he is in there."

Kane and Jamie Vardy are the only English strikers above Murray in the Premier League goal chart. He has scored 11 times, including five in his last six appearances.

Kane's recurrence of ankle ligament damage, suffered when Spurs beat Bournemouth at the weekend, raised hopes of Murray, at 34, becoming the first Albion player to play for England since the last of Steve Foster's three appearances against Kuwait in the 1982 World Cup.

Age and lack of pace appear to have counted against him. Southgate has gone instead with Vardy, Marcus Rashford and Arsenal's injury-prone Danny Welbeck - who is seven years younger than Murray but has scored eight Premier League goals fewer - supported by Raheem Sterling and Jesse Lingard.

Albion boss Chris Hughton said: "The reason why his name has been mentioned is because of the form he has been in.

"Where the possibility of him being in the squad came from I don't know. Whether that's just a feel because when you look at the strikers in the Premier League at the moment he is one player that is right up there.

"I think it's great for him that he has been mentioned in that type of company. He's got to continue doing what he is doing."