They have been as dependable as the Dunk and Duffy partnership at the heart of the defence for Albion in the Premier League.

Chris Hughton has relied almost exclusively on a combination of Dale Stephens and Davy Propper in the centre of the park for the Seagulls since they were promoted.

Perhaps not any more.

Injuries, increased competition and tactical tweaks mean Stephens and Propper may no longer be quite so dominant.

They have been Hughton's go-to midfielders ever since Dutchman Propper was signed from PSV Eindhoven, days before Albion's Premier League debut against Manchester City at the Amex.

Stephens missed only two matches last season, Propper three.

Stephens has already missed that number just seven games into the current campaign.

A hamstring injury sustained against Spurs at the Amex (below) sidelined him from the matches away to Manchester City and at home to West Ham.

The Argus: Now Propper faces a lay-off as well with an ankle injury suffered against the Hammers which forced his withdrawal from international duty.

Last season Albion got away with three established central midfielders, including Beram Kayal, in the absence throughout of the subsequently retired Steve Sidwell.

Pascal Gross provided back-up. He can operate deeper but the former Ingolstadt playmaker has excelled for the Seagulls as a No.10.

The situation was rectified in the summer by the signing of Yves Bissouma.

The mobile Mali international has featured among four different midfield set-ups by Hughton in the opening seven fixtures.

Bissouma has been used in a three-man midfield with Stephens and Propper against Liverpool and Spurs, then with Kayal and Propper at Manchester City.

The Stephens-Propper duet was maintained at the start against Watford and Manchester United, then against Fulham.

The Argus: Against West Ham, Propper (above) was joined by Kayal. Now, fitness permitting, Stephens and Kayal could be reunited for Saturday's visit to Newcastle.

Accustomed to partnering each other in the Championship, they have not been paired together in the Premier League since the 0-0 draw at Burnley in April.

The energetic Kayal, now enjoying a run of games for club and country, is on a roll.

Since a thankless task at Man City, followed by an outstanding display against West Ham, he has helped Israel to Nations League victories over Scotland and Albania. He is certain to start at Newcastle.

The composed and combative mix offered by Stephens, a stabilising influence in front of the back four, has been a mainstay for Hughton throughout his reign. A good understanding has developed with the quietly efficient Propper.

Bissouma (below) offers something a little different, the athletic exuberance and at times naivety of youth.

The Argus: Sensibly Hughton has deployed him so far solely as part of a three-man midfield as he beds into the demands of the English game.

One aspect of the more wide-ranging midfield mix now at Hughton's disposal that demands improvement is goals.

Stephens, Propper, Kayal and Bissouma have not scored between them in a cumulative tally of 115 Premier League appearances.

It has been encouraging to see Kayal (below) provide assists for both club and country during his rich vein of form.

The Argus: Promising as well that Shane Duffy (twice) and Anthony Knockaert have been on the scoresheet this season.

Albion have been too reliant on Glenn Murray and Gross for goals. They are responsible for 25 of the 43 in the top flight.

Jonjo Shelvey and Mo Diame are not prolific but they have chipped in here and there from the middle of the park for Newcastle.

It is still early days but Hughton's return to St James' Park, where Albion have failed to score in two visits under his command, feels like a six-pointer.

The team that pipped the Seagulls to the Championship title two seasons ago under Rafa Benitez finished five places and four points higher last season.

They currently sit next-to-bottom, six points adrift of Albion and without a win, although their start has also included several assignments against the top six.

Newcastle launches a sequence of matches for Albion against several sides likely to be in the same section of the table in the longer term - Wolves, Everton, Cardiff, Leicester, Huddersfield, Crystal Palace, Burnley.

Hughton's midfield permutations will have an important part to play in accumulating enough points to remain comfortably placed.