🎤 David Dunn

Chris Wilder is set to be replaced by Ruben Selles. Is he the right man?

Wilder is so unlucky, to be third in the league, a really good points total, and then suddenly miss out at the last minute. So I'll feel for him. In terms of Ruben, I've come across him quite a few times when he was at Reading. I think it was a difficult job for him at Reading when he was there, dealing with a lot of things off the pitch. I was actually at the game when the fans kept throwing all the tennis balls on the pitch as well. So it was a little bit frustrating, but he comes across a really good guy and I'm sure he'll fit in well and I'm sure the supporters will take to it.

Cameron Burgess has left Ipswich Town to join Swansea. Are you surprised by that?

I’m not surprised. Alan Sheehan has been given the job permanently now. I think Cameron Burgess is a really good, steady player. I think he's done ever so well at Ipswich. I think the way you hear him with the new investment into Swansea… it could be a club like many other clubs that have been taken over in that Championship, and become a real force now.

Ipswich have joined Birmingham and Rangers in the race for Kwame Poku. Which club should he join and why?

I had the pleasure of being down in Birmingham for the last game of the season against Mansfield and wow, I mean for a former player to go down there, the reception I got, the fans were unbelievable. They’re a team next year that I'll be really looking forward to seeing in the Championship because I think about the feel good factors at the club. I think it's a real special place and players want to go there. I think Poku now needs to go and test himself really in the Championship properly at a different club. I think he's been at Peterborough now for a while. I've come across him, I think he's a really good, talented player. So I think it'd be a good fit for him to go to Blues.

Sunderland have been linked with Celtic star Carter-Vickers. What do you think of that move?

I think he's a big presence at centre-back. I think he's done ever so well up at Celtic. But then again, coming back down south of the border in the Premier League, I think it's a different challenge for many players making that move. Sunderland are getting promoted to the Premier League for the first time in a good while. My wife's from the North East and I know how passionate the Newcastle and Sunderland fans are and the Middlesbrough fans. It's going to be a really exciting season both in the Premier League and the Championship.

What chance do you give them of survival?

I think the fans will really help things. It's going to be tough, I think the gap between the Championship and the Premier League is becoming a little bit greater, a little bit bigger. But I think the fans will help, but it's going to be a real challenge for all the promoted teams because there's such a gap in the leagues. I think Burnley have done a fabulous job. Scott Parker has done a great job there at Burnley. Look at Leeds and Sunderland with the support and the fan base that they have. They can really get behind them and almost create that 12th man. Certainly if they're home, I think the home form is going to be key for both Sunderland and the other two.

And how important would the return of Jordan Henderson be to that?

Henderson is a leader, I think he's a real leader. Every time I see him, I think he comes across as a really good kid, really, that tries 110 % every time he puts his boots on. And I think you're probably going to need someone like that. He's a fantastic player, and they're going to hopefully use his experience as well, because that's going to be invaluable.

Moving on to your old club, Birmingham, what kind of chance do you give them of securing promotion to the Premier League back to back?

I think Birmingham will be right up there, I really do. Chris Davis is another head coach that's done very well. But I think it's going to be a real test this year, again, because of the difference in quality. He's going to be facing straight away three Premier League teams this season that have just come down. And then you put that with all the quality in the Championship. It's going to be tough, they've got to be really savvy in the transfer market. They're a really well-funded club now. So I think there's going to be a few quid spent.

Who would you like to see them sign?

Having watched the games, certainly in League One, they’ve got the best two centre-forwards in Jay Stansfield and Alfie May. Obviously, they mixed it up a little bit, and I know Alfie played a little bit out wide at times, but I think they probably need to strengthen because they'll need to score goals in the Championship. So I would strengthen up front, and obviously I know the way they try to play. I think it's really important that they get some good midfielders as well because I think that the engine room is probably where it's going to be won and lost in that league.

Who would you like to see Wrexham sign?

I would actually love to see Jamie Vardy at Wrexham, I really would. It’s really exciting. In the Championship now there's an abundance of quality in there. The teams are so exciting, with all the takeovers and obviously the American investment now seems to be really popular. I'm sure Wrexham will be wanting to chase Luton’s down there and make it number two.

How much would a prime David Dunn cost in today's game?

I’d like to say £100m, but I’m sure many would disagree! Today’s game would suit me down to the ground. So I think I would do all right in this day and age.

Which player in today's game reminds you most of your own style?

Maybe Phil Foden, I know there’s Grealish too. Just any player that really wants to get at defenders, get the ball and beat someone with a little sidestep or a step over and go past someone from the middle of the pitch. I hate to say it because it looks like I'm comparing myself with some of the best players in the country, but I'd probably say any player that seems to go past people from the middle of the pitch, making things happen, creating and scoring goals.

Most underrated player you played with?

I'm not necessarily saying he's underrated, but I thought I played with some really good full backs like Jeff Kenna, who's obviously an international, Lucas Neil, an Australian international. They probably didn't get loads of recognition for how good they actually were. They were really good full backs.

Who’s the one midfielder you wish you'd played with?

Patrick Vieira. I played against him many times. Probably the best player I've played against in the middle of the pitch but I'd have liked to played with him, that's for sure.

Who was the hardest teammate you ever had?

In terms of experienced players coming down, kind of the back end of his career coming, I thought Mark Hughes was like a real solid player. I remember an occasion we played Arsenal in the tunnel, obviously the Manchester United and Arsenal rivalry that they had. I just remember seeing Martin Keown and Hughes studding each other in the tunnel before we even went out to play. It was like, this is going to be interesting. But Spiky was a really good player. Gary Flitcroft was a real tough midfielder as well.

Hardest player you played against?

Patrick Vieira. Between Vieira and Roy Keane I think. I know that's a pretty standard answer as a midfielder against them too at the time but I'd opt for Vieira. I think he just had everything. He's 6 foot 4, he's quick, he can pass it, can score goals, he'd rattle you at the right times. I think he had everything.

Who was the biggest joker in the dressing room?

David Bentley was a good character. I’ve seen him dancing at some races the other week as well. He just really loved life. He was a good guy.

Who was the most stylish teammate you ever played with? And who had the worst dress sense too?

I think Robbie Savage could probably go on both of them. Sometimes Savage would look really cool and had a really good dress sense. And then other times I used to see some of his gear and think, wow, what the hell is he wearing? But if I were to say the most stylish player I'd ever played against, I would say Vince Grella, the Italian-Australian. He was pretty smug. Vince had all the Italian gear and yeah, he looked good.

Roy Keane or Patrick Vieira?

Vieira.

Patrick Vieira or Michael Essien?

Vieira.

Vieira or Michael Carrick?

Vieira.

Vieira or Yaya Toure?

Vieira.

Vieira or Michael Ballack?

Vieira.

Vieira or Luka Modric?

Probably I should save you, but do you know what? I'm gonna go Modric!

Modric or Frank Lampard?

Modric.

Modric or Cesc Fabregas?

Modric.

Modric or Paul Scholes?

Paul Scholes.

Scholes or Steven Gerrard?

Steven Gerrard.

Greatest Premier League player. Gerrard or Scholes?

Gerrard.

Gerrard or Frank Lampard?

Gerrard.

Greatest Prem player ever. Gerrard or Vieira?

Gerrard.

Gerrard or Eric Cantona?

Gerrard.

Gerrard or Giggs?

Giggs.

Giggs or Beckham?

Giggs.

Giggs or Cristiano Ronaldo?

Giggs.

What’s your five-a-side team of players you’ve played with? So this is one goalkeeper, one defender, two midfielders, a striker and a manager.

Brad Friedel in goal. Ryan Nelson. Tugay, David Bentley and Roque Santa Cruz. Manager? Graeme Souness.

What do you think happened to Santa Cruz? He was incredible but he didn't seem to work out at Man City.

I think he just had a couple of injuries there. He had sore knees. But what a guy. Down to earth. Brilliant guy. Good looking boy as well. I remember walking down Deansgate many times with him and just seeing the girls all looking at him, like they couldn't take their eyes off him. Even my wife! What a guy, what a really good, brilliant, brilliant individual. Loved his company. We nearly signed Lewandowski as well if it weren't for the Ash Cloud before that. I know he scored loads of goals, but imagine if I was behind him!

World-class or not. Scott McTominay?

I think this year you'd have to say world class.

Declan Rice?

No.

Phil Foden?

World-class.

Jude Bellingham?

World-class.

Bruno Fernandes?

Not world-class.

Alexis McAllister?

Not world-class.

Enzo Fernandez?

World-class.

Kobi Mainoo?

Not world-class.

Curtis Jones?

Not world-class.

Bruno Guimarães?

Not world-class.

Martin Odegaard?

Not world-class.

Moises Caicedo?

Not world-class.

Dominik Szoboszlai?

No.

Morgan Gibbs-White?

Not world-class.

James Maddison?

Not world-class.

Adam Wharton?

Will be.

Your all-time Premier League XI?

I'm going to say Brad Friedl again because I think I had the pleasure of playing with him for many years. I actually think he was the best keeper in the world. I don't care what anyone says. I know we were little old Blackburn in the Premier League, but I think he was there. Anyone who could see Brad on a weekly basis knew he was the best goalkeeper for me, even to the point where they used to go through 1v1, I used to look and say, we'll get ready for Brad throwing it out to one of the defenders. Because he was that good. Unbelievable goalkeeper. Ashley Cole left back. John Terry and Virgil van Dijk. I think there's a real argument to say Gary Neville as well. Gerrard, Scholes, Lampard and Vieira. Shearer and Thierry Henry.

What potential chance would you give Leeds for survival?

I think from the three teams that have just gone up, Leeds stand the best chance of staying up. But it’s so difficult. As we've seen this year, it's so difficult to stay in the Premier League. I always think there's two ways of looking at it. The promoted teams go up and spend a little bit of money but then get all the infrastructure, training grounds and more. So then when they do drop down again, they can attract better players in the Championship to give them the best chance of going up again. A little bit like Birmingham, I think Birmingham have got it spot on in how they've done things. They really do. I know it's probably frustrating for the Birmingham supporters at times when they're yo-yoing.

As a Blackburn legend, would you like to see Burnley go straight back down?

I’ll put it another way, I'd rather see us go up. So if we're going to play Burnley the season after, I'd rather it be in a Premier League game than the Championship.

How likely is it that Southampton will return to the Premier League? And how highly do you rate Will Still?

I watched him on Monday Night Football a couple of months ago. He came across well. I think he's done well in his previous job. But again, English football is totally different. I think it's going to be a real challenge, if I'm being honest. He's got to get a real buy in early doors from the group. I think it's going to be tough. I think Southampton could struggle.

What are your expectations for Coventry City this season?

I think they'll be there or thereabouts. I think they'll be in the top six. I think Frank will probably want to go a little bit higher than they did and try to go for them automatic spots. But I think he's done a fantastic job, really good job. Not easy. Mark Robbins did a fantastic job. Real good structure in the club. Probably a little bit unfortunate to lose his job but Frank's coming in and done very well.

Harry Darling signed for Norwich over the likes of Birmingham and Rangers. What did you think of that?

He's worked with Liam Manning. M.K. Dons, he went there on loan for 12 months. He can score a goal as well, I think he's chipped in with a few assists last season. He's a threat from set pieces. I think he's a good, solid signing. I've got to say, I thought Norwich last season were excellent. They were excellent. Just missed a little bit of cutting edge, maybe missed a little bit of the defensive side of it at times, but I really liked the way Norwich played last year. I thought when I watched them, I thought they'd finish a lot higher.

Do you think Norwich will compete for promotion?

I quite like the way Liam plays. I went down and did the radio down at Bristol City last season against Blackburn down there. I like the way he sets his team up. I thought his Oxford team were good. They did a good job at Bristol. Norwich will be a little bit better again. We'll be able to get a few better players that maybe can do what he wants them to do a little bit better. It’s going to be a really exciting season. As we've seen last year, everyone can beat everyone. I think it's a real competitive league.

What should the expectations be for Portsmouth next season and how good is Jose Mousinho?

They did a really solid job there to get them up to the Championship, and changed the way they played a little bit. They were a little bit more playing out and then kind of used the strength of Colby Bishop and players like that and got down the sides of the teams to get them promoted. They put teams under pressure. They've got a really good work ethic. They put teams under pressure. I think he's done a great job keeping him in the league, to be honest. Certainly, probably a quarter away through the season, maybe a bit more, a third through the season, I was looking at him thinking he could be in a little bit of trouble. But he’s put some really good runs together.

What were your thoughts on Michael Carrick being sacked?

It seemed like it fizzled out, if I'm being honest. I've got a lot of respect and time for Michael and Jonathan Woodgate. I think they did a decent job there. Probably just couldn't get them over the line again. I'd love to see Tony Mowbray back into his local home team. Tony's a terrific fella, loves football, gives the club everything. And I know he's been there before and did okay. I think I'd love to see him go to that club and get another chance at Middlesbrough.

What clubs did you come close to joining in your career?

When I left Blackburn, I met Everton and spoke to Middlesbrough. I was quite close to joining Chelsea under Claudio Ranieri. He was a little bit disappointed at the time that I didn't, but my agent at the time was Steve Bruce's agent and I was going away and I wanted to get it boxed off before I went away on holiday. Probably should have been a bit more patient, I'm quite impatient at times and probably should have waited on a little bit and maybe sorted it when I got back from all of it. The one team that did make an inquiry was Valencia when I was at Blackburn. The president of Valencia tried to. But I was a little bit of a home bird at times and I didn't quite fancy it. Looking back now, I would have, if it was me now in my body 25 years ago, I'd have done it all day long. I think it would have been a brilliant move.

Are you looking to return to management?

No, not really thought about it. I've had a few opportunities going back in as an assistant. But to be honest, my little boy, he's at Blackburn now. He's been on the bench a couple of times now for them. I don't want to really be involved in football when suddenly I get a call saying he's making his debut and I'm working. I think I'd want to be there.