FANS’ favourite David Dunn is back at Blackburn Rovers after being appointed as the club’s new under-21 assistant coach.

Dunn scored 59 goals in 377 appearances across two spells for his boyhood club before leaving in the summer to join Oldham Athletic where he spent six months as a player and then as a manager.

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The 36-year-old, who lost his job as Oldham boss in January, will work alongside lead under-21 coach and fellow Rovers Academy graduate Damien Johnson following the departure of John Filan.

The duo came through the Ewood Park ranks and were part of the squad that won promotion back to the Premiership in 2001 before both moved on to Birmingham City.

Former England international Dunn, who also won the Worthington Cup with Rovers, said:  “I’m delighted to be back at the club. I don't have to say how much this club means to me. I think everyone knows what Blackburn Rovers means to me personally.

“So I’m just really looking forward to coming in and helping Damien. We have a good relationship anyway, so that should be fine and obviously I’m looking forward to learning from the manager (Paul Lambert), as well as Alan (Irvine) and Rob (Kelly), who are some of the best coaches around.”

Former Northern Ireland international Johnson said:  “I’ve known David for over 20 years. We met as 14-year-olds when we were coming through the ranks together and we’ve got a really strong relationship, so I think it’s a brilliant appointment by the club and I’m really looking forward to working alongside him.

“He doesn’t need any introduction around these parts, he’s achieved everything that there is to achieve in the game, so he’s now going to pass that experience on. He’s going to be a great influence on the group and it’s up to the players to take advantage of that.”

Rovers’ head of Academy, Eric Kinder, said: “I’m absolutely delighted David has accepted the role to work alongside Damien with the under-21s.

“It’s important that we recruit staff with a love of the club and I certainly don’t need to tell people how much David loves this club.

“I have been really impressed with how he has gone about getting his coaching qualifications in recent years, whilst continuing his playing career, which shows just how focused and determined he was to go down this route.”