‘Sensational’ Dunne gets captain’s reward

Mark Staniforth

Pearce has never made any secret of his admiration for Dunne's no-nonsense style of play, or the way he overcame the personal problems which threatened to destroy his career.

Now Pearce will reward the returning Dunne with the captain's armband for today's Barclays Premiership trip to Birmingham and, he hopes, a starting place for many seasons to come.