Lewis Dunk is poised for his Premier League return – helped by a big FA Cup test.

Head coach Graham Potter has praised his skipper’s efforts in the 3-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.

He now targets Saturday’s trip to Watford as Potter returns to the scene of his first game in charge of the Seagulls.

Dunk missed nine games with a knee injury before being thrown in against Spurs’ array of dangerous attackers.

Potter said: “I thought he was really, really good considering the time he has had out.

“So brave, full of spirit, full of quality.

“A bit of rustiness as you can imagine after a couple of months and playing at the level.

“Son and Kane and Moura are as good as you get in terms of attacking the spaces.

“A tough night for him but I thought he coped with it really well.”

Dunk was named BBC’s man of the match when Potter opened his Albion tenure with a 3-0 win at Vicarage Road on the first day of the 2019-20 season.

Current squad members Pascal Gross, Solly March and Shane Duffy all started that day and Neal Maupay scored on his debut off the bench.

Potter’s first starting XI also included the now departed Maty Ryan, Martin Montoya, Dan Burn, Davy Propper, Dale Stephens, Jurgen Locadia and Glenn Murray.

He sent on Florin Andone,who scored, and Bernardo as subs.