SHEFFIELD United are commonly believed to be punching above their weight in the Premier League as they head to the Amex.

The Blades are riding high in seventh spot since gaining promotion last season and a win on Saturday could take them to fifth.

An ever-present in that successful start to Prem life has been former promotion-winning Seagulls midfielder Oliver Norwood.

He has started all 17 games in a midfield triumvirate featuring John Lundstram and John Fleck.

Norwood has achieved the rare feat of sealing three consecutive promotions to the top flight but, after never making a Prem appearance for Albion or then Fulham, he is now making up for lost time with the Blades.

He has been getting rave reviews, including from former professional boxer and footballer Curtis Woodhouse.

Ex-Blade Woodhouse, who became British light-welterweight champion after swapping football for the ring, has not pulled his punches on his view of Norwood’s quality.

He said in a tweet: “Oli Norwood is Sheff United’s best ever player after the great TC (Tony Currie). As a midfielder he’s top top drawer, wouldn’t look out of place in any team in Europe.

“That’s how good I think he is. Yea I said it! Don’t just shoot me down, watch this young man play objectively, he’s special.”

It is high praise for a player Albion felt they could do without and may have a point to prove on Saturday.

Albion’s former assistant boss Bob Booker, who has legendary status at United where he captained the club to success, watched Norwood in action last weekend against Aston Villa.

He believes Norwood, 28, is a good fit with the way United play and Albion will need to be wary.

Booker said: “It’s all about opinions. It’s all about what managers can get out of a player and it is also about what system you are playing the player in. That all comes into play.

“I watched Oliver Norwood last Saturday and if you give him time on the ball he can pick a pass.

“It is something Albion need to look at on Saturday. If you want to stop him playing, then you have got to get in amongst him.

“It is all about tactics and shape and the shape that Sheffield United are playing at the moment suits Norwood. Boss Chris Wilder is getting the best out of him.

“Some players go to clubs and don’t want to do it for a certain manager because they don’t believe in what they are trying to do but obviously Norwood has every trust in Chris and that’s why he is in the team and is the club captain.”