Joel Veltman has praised Albion’s stand-in wing-backs – as he talks Jakub Moder through his new role.

Poland midfielder Moder has operated out wide of late ahead of a back three in which Veltman has switched to the left-hand side.

Albion have been managing with three genuine defenders although Adam Webster and Dan Burn were back on the bench against Everton on Monday after injury.

An improvised defensive set-up have conceded just two goals in the last three-and-a-half games.

Veltman said: “I’m not a left-sided central defender but I’m comfortable where the gaffer puts me. That’s fine.

“Sometimes we have played with Solly (March) on the left or me on the right.

“We are more defenders than Jakub and Pascal (Gross) are but they are doing a great job.

“With the ball they are amazing so we are playing lovely football, I think.”

Veltman has helped Moder with his defensive duties.

He added: “We need to keep a decent shape.

“I need to communicate a lot with him but he is doing well.

“He is focusing on where to run and he is doing a great job up to now.”

Veltman believes it is a good sign the Seagulls were disappointed with a 0-0 draw against Everton.

He said: “It’s the story of the season. We played a lot of games really well, including I think at Manchester United.

“If we focus 100%, 90 minutes, then I think we can win against every team in the Premier League.

“But most of the times, let’s say against United and Crystal Palace, we were much better but we need to make it easy for ourselves and score one or two.”

Veltman says Albion should take encouragement from their efforts against the Toffees as they build for next Tuesday’s trip to Chelsea.

He added: “We did well. The first half we were a little sloppy sometimes but we were the better team.

“In the second half we were even better.

“If we were better with the final pass or touch in their box we could have scored one or two.

“If we do that we make it easy for ourselves.

“These kind of games you can lose. They had one shot, Iwobi I think.

“But the most important is I thought we did well until the final third.”

Veltman will make his first return to Stamford Bridge since he was harshly sent off with Ajax in a dramatic 4-4 draw in the Champions League.

He could go up against his former Ajax colleague Hakim Ziyech.

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Veltman said: “Amazing - another great team in the Premier League.

“It will be a nice test for us to show our skill.

“I played four games against them and had a red card.”

He joked: “Personally I want some revenge on them!”