GUS Poyet has blamed himself for asking too much of Albion’s sought-after defender Lewis Dunk.

The centre-half prospect, linked with a move to several top Premier League clubs, was left at home by the manager for Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Birmingham.

Poyet insists the decision to remove Dunk from the first team firing line has nothing to do with the speculation surrounding his future.

He revealed to The Argus: “I cannot tell you if that has affected him in the last few weeks. It’s difficult to know but there is no doubt we were really putting too much pressure on him, especially me.

“I’m the one who needs to control that and make sure he plays the right quantity of games and in the right games, depending on what happens the week before or the week after.

“He hasn’t said anything to me yet. Seeing as we kept a clean sheet it’s not the right moment for him to come back. I want to help him, I don’t want to put him in there and lose him. I want him to be part of the club for the next ten years.”

Inigo Calderon, dropped twice this season from his regular right-back role, was outstanding in Dunk’s place.

“For me it was his best game this season,” Poyet said. “Of course, it’s not his position but sometimes you need that, because of how offensive he is. Playing centre half you cannot really go out of position and he proved he is a good defender.

“If he stays there and gets used to defending then maybe afterwards, when he goes back to right-back, it’s going to be easier.”

Billy Paynter made his debut as a second half substitute and immediately showed signs of striking up a partnership with Craig Mackail-Smith.

Poyet said: “He was very good. He had presence and the ability to link. It looked like he has been playing together with Macca for a year which is interesting, another possibility for me, not only for Tuesday (at Watford) but until January, which is great.”

Poyet has no immediate plans to add to the loan signings of Paynter from Leeds, Steve Harper from Newcastle and West Brom’s Gonzalo Jara Reyes.

He has also dismissed reports linking Albion with Newcastle striker turned midfielder Alan Smith. “My son told me about it,” he said.

“I had a chat in the dressing room with Steve (Harper). I didn’t even know he was still at Newcastle, so there is nothing, not from the chairman, scouts, no-one. Maybe he wants to come!”