Albion boss Gus Poyet has renewed his call for defensive starlet Lewis Dunk to be given England recognition.

Dunk’s outstanding start to the season for the Seagulls has not been enough to earn him a call-up from Stuart Pearce, the under-21s coach.

Pearce has named 12 new players in a 27-strong squad for a Euro qualifier against Azerbaijan at Watford next Thursday and a friendly against Israel at Barnsley four days later.

Poyet, though reluctant to criticise Pearce’s selection policy, believes Dunk deserved a chance after promoting his international credentials earlier in the month.

He told The Argus: “I’ve got no doubt. It depends how you want to play. If you are going to defend for 90 minutes take somebody else, if you are going to want to play take Dunky.

“That is my opinion. I’m not the manager. The manager can pick the players that he knows better and it’s fair enough.

“I know sometimes it is difficult to be a manager of any national team at any age. It depends on how you play and the players you want to pick.

“You are free to pick the ones that you like and sometimes, especially in the main national team, you pick the ones that are playing in the best teams and the most important players, so then you have to adapt your style to the players.

“If you are the manager of the national team I would pick the players depending how I play. It doesn’t matter if you are the best midfielder of Chelsea or the one you need and he is playing in League Two. That’s my opinion but I’m not the manager.

“I respect the decision of the manager. He probably knows (about Dunk). The idea is just to know how he wants to play and the players he’s got, because he’s got players that play for Manchester United.

“Dunky could be very, very good but maybe there is someone who is better. He needs to wait. I’m sure he is ready.”