Brighton boss Graham Potter claims the Seagulls didn't need a Ben White replacement thanks to 'unique' Shane Duffy who has impressed since his return from 'frustrating and disappointing' loan at Celtic

• Irish defender Shane Duffy spent last season on loan in Scotland at Celtic 
• Brighton lost defender Ben White to Arsenal for £50million this summer
• Graham Potter revealed they didn't need a replacement with the return of Duffy 
• Brighton could go top of the table with a win over Leicester City on Sunday 

Brighton manager Graham Potter revealed that it was never in his plans to sign a replacement for Ben White because he knew he had Shane Duffy.

The Irish defender has had a great start to the season after returning from an indifferent loan spell at Celtic.

'I've been really impressed,' Potter said.

'I think since he's come back from a frustrating, disappointing and sad time for him up in Scotland, and he's realised how much he means to us here and vice versa.

'I think he knows he's in a good place, with good people around him that want to help him and he's taken massive steps.

'With Shane and his attributes, it makes him unique almost in terms of what he can bring to the team.'

But with Brighton sitting sky high in sixth place ahead of their clash with Leicester City on Sunday, Potter disagreed with the claims that his team needed to add defensive additions to continue their early season form after White's £50m departure to Arsenal.

The England international's move was one of the summer's big transfer deals and Brighton have not obviously signed a replacement.

'It wasn't in our plans to be honest,' Potter said when asked about whether Duffy's great comeback form was one of the reasons he was confident the Seagulls did not need to sign another defender.

'We've got good options in that area, players that can play there. Dan Burns, Joel Veltman, Shane, Lewis Dunk, Adam Webster and with Haydon Roberts coming up we have a lot of players there.'

Victory for Potter's men on Sunday could see them go to the top of the table, depending on results around them.

Midfielder Enock Mwepu is back, while Pascal Groβ is unavailable. Adam Webster will miss the game; whereas Dan Burn is back in contention and will be in the squad. Tariq Lamptey is making good progress in training ahead of his return to the team.