Dunn hopes to return to fitness

David Dunn hopes to return to fitness in time to help Birmingham’s push for Europe.

The England midfielder has been out of action with a hamstring problem since the end of February but is set to resume training this week.

Birmingham are currently sixth in the Premiership table, only three points off a Champions League place.

Boss Steve Bruce will no doubt welcome the news that Dunn, a summer signing from Blackburn, is close to a first-team comeback.

“I should be back in training with the rest of the lads at Birmingham later this week,” Dunn said in his column on the Football Association’s website, www.thefa.com.

“It will be a relief to be back among them. My recovery is going very well. I have been reaching all my targets so far.

“It might sound funny, but we have been doing tests to try and aggravate the injury – and it seems to be responding really well.

“If this all continues I hope to be back playing against Wolves at St Andrews on April 25.”

While former England Under-21s captain Dunn – handed his only full international cap in a friendly against Portugal last season – is unlikely to feature in Sven-Goran Eriksson’s final squad for Euro 2004, the 24-year-old believes James Beattie could yet force his way on to the plane to Portugal.

Dunn was a trainee alongside Beattie during their time at Blackburn and watched the striker in action against Wolves last weekend, where he scored in Southampton’s 4-1 win.

“I really hope he can make a late push in to the England squad for Euro 2004,” said Dunn.

“He is a different striker to anyone else England can call upon at the moment.

“He would be a great weapon to have as a substitute, coming on late in games to cause problems with his size and ability in the air.

“Give Beatts a chance, and he’ll always score you goals.”