DAVID Dunn today revealed why he fears he will have to leave the club he has supported all his life.

The England under-21 midfielder, who has had a transfer request rejected by Blackburn Rovers, believes he may well need to quit Ewood to help his career progress.

But, ideally, he would prefer to stay.

"I don't want to leave but I am at a stage in my career when I have to be playing first team football somewhere," said the 20-year-old homegrown star.

"With players coming back from injury there can be as many as six of us fighting for two places in the centre of midfield.

"It's frustrating, especially as I don't think I have done myself any harm when I have played."

Dunn was restored to the side at Brimingham last Tuesday, when Rovers played a five-man midfield.

But he was back on the bench as they reverted to 4-4-2 at Stockport on Saturday.

"I suppose if you look on the positive side, the fact that the club have turned down my request shows how much they want me to stay and, in one way, that's pleasing," he said.

"And I haven't fallen out with anyone or anything like that. I just want to play and I think I have proved I can play first team football.

"If you had said to me when I was an apprentice that I would play as many times as I have then I would have snatched your hand off.

"But once you get a taste for first team football you want more. "I've supported Rovers since I was little but this is my career and if it seems to be going backwards, then I have to think about moving on."

At the moment, Rovers have Dunn, Garry Flitcroft, Jason McAteer and Per Frandsen for the two central midfield roles. With both Billy McKinlay and Lee Carsley on the way back from injury they will soon be overcrowded in that area.

That isn't even mentioning players like Wayne Gill, who has made the occasional appearance.

But they would still be loathe to lose an exciting prospect like Dunn, especially one whose heart is in the club. Chief executive John Williams underlined the club's position.

"We have turned down David's transfer request as there is no intention of selling him," he said.

Alan Miller plays his first game for the club tonight since his transfer from West Brom, when he turns out in the reserve game at Leeds (kick-off 7pm).

Midfielder Billy McKinlay continues his comeback from long-term injury and Martin Taylor, whose loan period at Darlington has expired, also plays. The squad is: Miller, McNamee, Richardson, O'Brien, Short, Taylor, Baldacchino, McKinlay, Thomas, Burgess, Forsyth, Hawe, Hamilton, Dunning, Howson, Bingham.

Ewood keeper Alan Kelly plays for the Republic of Ireland against the Czechs tomorrow night, boosted by being named his country's international player of the year. The Irish media voted for the award.

Jason McAteer is also hoping for a start against the Czechs, though there is a lot of competition for the midfield places.

Young Rovers defender Peter Murphy is expected to be among the substitutes as the Republic of Ireland take on the Czech Republic in an under-21 international friendly in Dublin tonight.

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