There is a tenuous Stoke City connection between Lewis Dunk’s first appearance for Albion and his 400th.

Well, not so tenuous about the second part of that achievement.

The centre-back will play in tonight’s FA Cup tie in the Potteries.

Roberto De Zerbi confirmed that for us yesterday before we asked too many questions about him.

Back on his debut day in May 2010, we had two young players about whom to ask Albion boss Gus Poyet.

One was Diego Arismendi, a midfielder brought in on loan from Stoke City for whom Poyet had seemed to have high hopes.

The Uruguayan was sent off in a 0-0 draw and never wore Albion colours again.

By contrast, Dunk had a pleasingly uneventful debut and a legendary career in stripes was born.

True, it took some time for him to emerge as a first choice or regular starter.

Back then, the FA Cup helped give him a chance to shine as the squad was rotated.

In home ties against Woking and FC United of Manchester, for example.

But he has long since been an emblematic leader for his local club, not least under the guidance of Roberto De Zerbi and amid a multi-national changing room.

“He is a good guy because in the training ground I observe every day my players,” De Zerbi said.

“He always helps the young players to understand, to be inside the Brighton environment.

“If you speak about Dunk as a player, the personality, the technical quality and the power is complete.”

Back in those early days, the talk of the under-18s was a striker from Hampshire named George Barker, who was scoring lots of goals.

The goalscorers always get the attention.

Barker was put up for interview before an FA Youth Cup tie against Everton, which was very unusual for an under-18s player.

But the recently arrived Poyet and assistant Mauricio Taricco were struck by another player in that tie at Withdean and they were not alone.

Steve Brown was in charge of the under-18s back then.

He told The Argus: "I joined Brighton when Lewis was starting his second year as a scholar and I remember distinctly Martin Hinshelwood and Vic Bragg saying to me before our first game of the season, 'You will love Dunky, he’s going to play for the first team, no question'.

"Well, we got beat 3-0 and he kind of got bullied by their centre-forward and when we sat down together after I said, 'Are you two sure about the lad Dunk?'. 'Absolutely,' they both said together.

"Fast forward to the end of that season and it had become blatantly obvious from the training sessions and matches I’d taken that Lewis was destined to break into Brighton's first team at some point in the near future.

"I was and still am very proud to have played a small part in his development and it’s unbelievable to think he’s amassed 400 games and an England cap during his career.

"What you cannot underestimate is how much the individual himself has to commit, dedicate, understand and ultimately learn how to become the kind of professional Lewis has become over the last decade.

"He’s had superb support, backing and advice from his parents and close family and has been guided by a very good agent which has all helped him grow into the captain and leader you see out on the pitch today.

"I’ve watched him many times when I’ve been back to the Amex on my various scouting missions or summarising for various radio stations and Lewis has always been very committed to the cause.

"He thoroughly deserves all the recognition reaching this milestone will bring and I hope his body holds up and allows him to play many many more games and cement his place in Brightons history books as one of the most successful players to come through the youth system.

"It’s very rare these days that players stay at one club for the length of time Lewis has and it would be very fitting if he became a one club man and gets to finish his career where it all started.

"Enjoy, Dunky - you thoroughly deserve it fella!"

Adam El-Abd, another local defender who had come through the youth ranks, said: “I remember seeing him play in the Youth Cup against Everton when he was 16 and thought he stood out head and shoulders. Stature, composure, technique.

“I remember the game (his debut at MK Dons).

“He came in and played like he had been playing for years.

“You could tell he was going to be a player from the first game.”

There has been transfer speculation at times but there was one point in particular when it seemed Dunk might leave.

That was early in 2015-16 and the talk of a move only increased when Albion brought in Uwe Huenemeier and Connor Goldson in quick succession.

But it never happened and he helped his local club to the top flight.

De Zerbi said yesterday: “For me it’s difficult to understand how he has never played for a big team in the Premier League.

“If you ask me what I think about Dunk, I think he’s one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League.

“This is my opinion but I know well his potential, his standard of performances.”

As the head coach started that answer, it felt like he was going to express surprise he has not played for England more than once.

But this was a different take on Dunk’s career.

For those old enough, it is easy to draw comparisons between Dunk and Steve Foster as captains and leaders from central defence in the club’s two finest eras.

Foster was cruelly denied his biggest moment when suspended from the FA Cup final.

Dunk also missed the closest thing Albion have had to a cup final in his time as a player – the promotion decider at Middlesbrough.

But he has led his side in a Wembley semi-final and, De Zerbi was asked, how good would it be for him to one day enjoy the crowning moment in an FA Cup final?

De Zerbi does not like to talk about winning the cup.

But he allowed his mind to wander on this occasion.

“Yes, 100%. And I can understand him. I am a fan of Brescia which is a small club and my dream was always to play for my team and to win.

“I think for him it means something different to play in Brighton. For Solly March the same.

“I was speaking about the quality of Lewis Dunk and if I have to give one opinion about Lewis, then I think he could play Champions League or Europa League, or in different competitions.”