Lewis Dunk has made an impressive start to the Premier League season with Albion but just how does he rank compared to other English centre-backs in the league?

Pretty well is the answer to that question if the statistics are anything to go by just after the turn of the year.

The 28-year-old Albion skipper has scored the second most goals (two) this season, with only fellow Seagulls centre-half Adam Webster (three) having scored more.

In terms of assists Dunk leads the way with three to his name already, with Southampton’s Jack Stephens and Everton’s Mason Holegate behind him on two each in a pool of 35 players.

Dunk has had the third most shots (15) with Manchester United skipper Harry Maguire (20)the most.

Burnley’s James Tarkowski has also had 15 but appears above Dunk in the ranking courtesy of minutes played.

Dunk also sits third for the amount of chances created (eight), with only Maguire (13) and Sheffield United’s Jack O’Connell (ten) having made more.

He also tops the list for the amount of blocked passes (16), with Sheffield United’s Chris Basham (15) the next best.

Defensively Dunk sits fourth for interceptions (33), with the only players to have made more being Basham (41), Tarkowski (39) and Maguire (34).

Graham Potter’s style has put the onus on his defenders to start moves from the back.

That figure is reflected in Dunk’s 1,033 accurate short passes. Maguire (1,074) has made more and is the only other English centre-back to have made more than 1,000.

Only two English centre-halves have completed more than 100 accurate long passes with Dunk’s 111 second only to Wolves skipper Connor Coady (153).

If comparing Dunk’s stats this season to last term, he has already scored the same number of goals he did in 38 games in all competitions.

Dunk only got one assist last season but equalled that in the opening game of the campaign at Watford.

Although statistics only reveal so much, Dunk could well be on Gareth Southgate’s radar for England again.

He gained his only cap for England on November 15, 2018 against the USA in a friendly playing the full 90 minutes in a 3-0 win at Wembley.

Dunk has also helped Albion to keep five clean sheets this season, which is only two less than the seven they kept last season.

He has certainly taken to his role as skipper like a duck to water and further cemented himself as a vital piece in the Albion team.

He has only missed three games this season - and Albion have lost all three.

Dunk sat out Albion’s 2-0 defeat to Leicester after he picked up his fifth booking of the season and he missed the Boxing Day clash with Spurs - which they lost 2-1- due to illness.

He also missed the Seagulls 1-0 FA Cup third round defeat to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, after feeling his calf wasn’t 100%.

Head coach Potter has already praised Dunk this season for his all round game with the Albion head coach saying ‘he is just getting better and better’.

The stats seem to back up that claim.