Graham Potter admits he would not have liked to mark Tariq Lamptey when he was a player.

The Albion boss says full-backs have a different job now to when he played that role.

But, admit the forward forays, they still have to protect their own goal as a priority.

Lamptey is likely to make his second Premier League start of the season when Albion take on Newcastle today.

Potter was asked how the role he used to play compares to that now being carried out by the former Chelsea youngster.

He said: “I think the game has evolved a lot since I was playing. For sure he is a hell of a lot faster than I was!

“I wouldn’t like to play against him, that’s for sure.

“I think his qualities are that he can go forward and affect the game in the opposition’s final third. At the same time he is still a capable defender.

“The demand and the work he can get through is incredible, when I think back to how the game has evolved from when I played.

Will it be a better game than this bore draw?

“So he is one of those and hopefully he can end up having a really good career as a modern-day full-back, which is one that can defend his goal at the same time as affecting the opposition goal.

“When you say it like that, it sounds like it’s a big ask. But he has got the capabilities.

“It is a little bit of how the game has evolved. Sometimes the width often comes from full-backs rather than wingers.

“That is how the game is. We go through those little stages and I am pretty sure it will turn back at some point.

“You see how Liverpool use their full-backs as an example, in terms of crossing and getting forward and being an attacking force.

“We are happy with Tariq, we are happy with the other options we have got, and we want to try to improve.”

Lamptey made his England under-21s debut less than a fortnight ago and, if he continues to progress, the time will come when he aims to catch Gareth Southgate’s eye for senior selection.

Potter said: At the moment there is a glut of quality full-backs. Gareth has got a lot options there.”

Potential key battles as Albion face Newcastle

Albion’s faith in Lamptey’s talents may have been reflected in the fact they let go two senior right-backs go this summer in Ezequiel Schelotto and Martin Montoya.

They brought in Joel Veltman as a right-back option while Adam Webster, Ben white and Steven Alzate have all played on that side of defence in some shape or form.

There might come a time to take Lamptey out of the firing line in what will be his first full Prem season.

Potter said: “You always have to consider the player, consider what he has done and where he is at physically and psychologically.

“You always have to take that into consideration. The more we get to know him, the more we can help him with that.

“It is not just a case of throwing him in the deep and hoping he swims.

“You have got to take care of him as well.

“There will be times where I am pretty sure there will be other options for us and that will be better for him.

“But, at the moment he is enthusiastic, wants to play and is full of energy. That’s great for us.”

Jayson Molumby played at right-back in the Carabao Cup win over Portsmouth but that was very much a stop-gap measure.

Potter said: “Clearly that is not his position and he's a midfield player, but just the necessity of the game he slotted in there for us and I thought he did it really well in terms of his attitude and approach to it was first class.

"That's the type of character he is.”