Gus Poyet has tipped Albion starlet Lewis Dunk for an England under-21 call-up.

Poyet insists his 19-year-old centre half, pictured, would not look out of place after starting the season so well in place of the injured Adam El-Abd and Tommy Elphick.

The manager also reckons Ashley Barnes, who has an Austrian grandmother, could return to the international reckoning following an appearance for their under-20s while he was at Plymouth.

Poyet said: “When you are young I think anyone could be joining up and going in.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Dunky gets a call for the under-21s because he can challenge or play with any centre-half of that age and be comfortable to go and perform.

“It’s up to every player. I don’t know if Ashley Barnes wants to go with Austria. I think he has played one game for them.

“I don’t know how many strikers they have got who can score 20 goals in England.”

Dunk continues alongside skipper Gordon Greer at Portsmouth tomorrow and Barnes, whose penalty knocked Gillingham out of the Carling Cup on Tuesday, is also on course to start again.

He is likely to partner Craig Mackail-Smith, back from international duty with Scotland, if Will Hoskins is ruled out for the third game running. Hoskins (hip) and Kazenga LuaLua (hamstring) are both rated “touch and go” by Poyet.

Dunk’s performances in The Amex victories against Doncaster and the Gills have eased Poyet’s concerns in the centre of defence as he continues the pursuit of Swansea midfielder Ryan Harley, together with the addition of another striker to his squad.

The Uruguayan confirmed: “We are still looking for the same two players. I say three sometimes because everybody knows I was trying to cover the centre-half position.

“We are monitoring that daily, depending on Gordon and Dunky. If we can go without bringing in anyone we will but that is because of Dunky especially, the way he has been playing.

“The other areas we need to strengthen, particularly when we go up to seven subs again in the next cup game. We need to have a little bit more cover and a first team squad in there.”