DARREN BENT believes Albion skipper Lewis Dunk deserves another England call-up.

And the former Seagulls loan striker is astounded the centre-half has been overlooked by England manager Gareth Southgate in recent squads since his one cap against the United States in a 2018 friendly.

England’s next game is a friendly against Italy at Wembley on March 27 as part of their preparations for Euro 2020.

Striker Bent, who was capped 13 times for the Three Lions, believes Dunk should be in the squad if he continues his fine form.

Manchester United’s Harry Maguire appears a fixture in Southgate’s central defensive plans ahead of the Euros but questions remain over who should partner him with the likes of Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings starting in their last qualifier, a 4-0 win in Kosovo in November, and Chelsea’s Fikayo Tomori coming off the bench.

Dunk will get another chance to catch the eye on Saturday when Albion head to Everton, where he scored last season in a 3-1 defeat.

Bent said: “I can’t believe he is not in there.

“I feel like with every squad he is not even getting a sniff.

“They talk about Ben Mee, Steve Cook, while James Tarkowski has obviously had his shout as well, but Lewis Dunk for me is the best out of the lot of them.

“Maybe he’s not better than Harry Maguire but I believe he is a better defender than Stones – 100% I think he is.”

Bent, speaking on Talksport, added: “Maybe it’s because he plays for Brighton, I hope that’s not the case, but I can’t see any other reason why Lewis Dunk can’t get in the squad.

“I just don’t understand it.”