Lewis Dunk has been backed to return to his very best.

The skipper has impressed in training of late as he continues his return from a knee injury.

He has played five full Premier League matches since a lay-off which extended past the two-month mark.

Those matches have seen him struggle to reach his best levels.

Albion boss Graham Potter said: “It is the first time he has had a long injury, I would say, in his career.

“There are lots of levels. It has been a challenge for him because psychologically you have to deal with that and then you have to get up to speed in the middle of a Premier League season - which is not easy and I think he has done it well.

“As always he’s probably a little bit hard on himself but his performances have been probably not at the level he would like in terms of his maximum level.

“But I think when you understand what he’s been through then I have no complaints.

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“I think the weeks that we have had since the last game he has stepped up.

“He has led the team really well in training and contributed to the week that we have had.

“So it is a little bit normal, it is part of the narrative, it’s part of the reason why results maybe have not been quite as good but we just have to get on with that.

“Sometimes these things happen and you have to get through it.”