The rebirth of Richard Dunne

The career of Richard Dunne appeared to be on the downslide for the best part of the last year. Having been a great servant to Manchester City since 2000, Dunne’s time at the peak of professional football looked to be disappearing with the takeover of the Manchester club by the Abu Dhabi United Group. The Irish centre back began to become surplus to requirements at Eastlands with the summer signings of Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott pushing Dunne down Mark Hughes’ pecking order and if rumours are to be believed then the man who had appeared nearly 300 times for Manchester City was forced out of the club, despite wanting to stay and fight for his place.

I was one of the people who believed that this would mark the beginning of the end for Richard Dunne, expecting to see him sign for a mediocre Premier League side and to never surpass the heights he experienced at Manchester City, therefore I was shocked to see Dunne complete a move to Aston Villa in early September of this year. Fellow Irishman Martin O’Neill secured the services of Dunne for £6 million and the centre back has been an instant success at Villa Park, grabbing the chance to revitalise his career.

Dunne has proved the naysayers wrong and has played an instrumental role in Aston Villa’s successful start to the season. The Midlands club currently lie in 4^th position in the Premier League, ahead of Spurs and Dunne’s former club Manchester City and have already defeated title favourites Chelsea and Manchester United this season, conceding just one goal in the process. Dunne has cemented his place as a first choice centre back for Martin O’Neill’s side and has already forged an effective partnership with another of O’Neill’s summer signings; James Collins. Aston Villa have a solid and robust feeling about their side this season and at the moment look the most likely to break the top four with Dunne having been key in their recent form.

Dunne has also replicated his recent defensive displays for his country, the Republic of Ireland, most notably in a dramatic two legged tie with France. Dunne and co limited the French stars to just two goals in over 200 minutes of football and as has been well documented, were very unlucky to miss out on a World Cup place. He is a character that plays with his heart on his sleeve with an emotion and drive that is rivalled by few in the Premier League and although this may occasionally result in a red card every now and again, it is generally a recipe for success in the centre back role. Take last weekend against the Champions Manchester United for example. Dunne was one of a number of Aston Villa players who threw themselves into tackles and in front of shots in a dedicated performance that saw Villa emerge with all three points.

The defender has also found his scoring boots as of late, with 3 league goals already for Villa this season, including a key header in a 2-1 victory over Chelsea. It is an aspect of Dunne’s game that he is not noted for yet has become another positive aspect of his recent resurrection. A goal against former club Manchester City was followed by a demonstration in how to celebrate against a previous employer and it is a lesson that Emmanuel Adebayor will have done well to take note of. It is reasons like this that many people will not begrudge Dunne of his rebirth at Villa Park. He has been a loyal servant to City and has always tried to conduct himself in the correct manner, an admirable trait yet one that is so often absent in the modern day footballer. He has been in the form of his life this season and if he is able to continue this then it will give Aston Villa the push they need to break the top four.