Lewis Dunk has received the biggest Albion compliment possible for a ball-playing centre-back.

Former Seagulls defender Andy Rollings has revealed the current No.5 reminds him of Mark Lawrenson.

Dunk has progressed into the England squad this season while remaining a force in the Premier League.

Rollings played in the heart of defence during the club’s first golden era in the 1970s and now watches closely as part of his role as a matchday host at the Amex.

He has been impressed by Albion’s adaptation to the top tier and sees Dunk as a symbol of that.

Rollings told The Argus: “He has matured. If you go back to the start of the Amex journey (in 2011), he has progressed every season.

“That’s what you want. You will never lose the touch and the tackling and the heading but it’s the increased maturity that goes with it.

“It was brilliant for him to be given his first England cap and now it’s onwards and upwards for him.

The Argus:

“He actually reminds me a lot of Lawro (pictured above).

“Lawro was the one among us who could play out from the back, read the game, have that touch and control.

“Lewis does the same. Dunk and Shane Duffy is a great partnership.

“Duffy is fantastic in the air, physical, and Lewis is the perfect foil."

Lawrenson, who went on to sign for Liverpool, is widely revered as perhaps the best Albion player ever, certainly of his type.

Rollings also likes what he has seen of summer additions Yves Bissouma and Florin Andone.

And, with his centre-back hat on, he can see why Glenn Murray describes Andone as "a nuisance”.

He said: “Glenn has been incredible for us. He will always score goals.

“I think Andone looks a clever player. He puts himself about.

“He’s physical, he gets stuck in and you love to see that.

“I can understand what Glenn says about him because Andone doesn’t let anybody rest on their laurels.

“He works his socks off. You expect that of every player but he’s quick and you can’t rest against him.”

Rollings, who had been suffering from a virus of late, added: “I didn’t have much voice at the Palace game.

“But, when he scored that goal, I didn’t have any voice left!

“I think the squad looks stronger and I’ve enjoyed watching the boy Bissouma. What a talent he is going to be.”

The Argus:

Rollings, pictured above, and old mate Chris Cattlin will share their expertise and insight live on stage tomorrow night.

They will be stars of An Evening With Rollo And Catt, being staged by the Albion Roar team from Radio Reverb.

The live show takes place at The Rialto Theatre in central Brighton, from 8pm (doors 7pm), and will be hosted by Roar duo Ady Packham and Alan Wares.

Rollings said: “I’m looking forward to it. I’ve never done anything like this before.

“They will be asking us a few questions for the first hour and then it opens out into a general question and answer session.

“From the hosting I do at the Amex, I know a lot of supporters remember more about the old days than we do.

“It will keep me on my toes and test my memory. I like that.”

Cattlin and Rollings were mainstays of the Albion side which reached the top flight in the late 1970s and the former went on to manage the team in the 1980s.

Tickets for the show cost £8 (£6 concessions) from the Rialto box office, online via rialtotheatre.co.uk or through the Albion Roar page on Facebook.