RICHARD Dunne is ready to face his ultimate nightmare in tiny Blackburn striker Paul Dickov.

The duo only shared the same Manchester City dressing room for a season until Dickov was deemed surplus to requirements by then Blues boss Kevin Keegan, since when the Scotland international appears to have been on a one-man mission to prove his old manager wrong.

Dickov has scored three times in five outings against City since his departure for Leicester in 2002, including Blackburn's goal in a 1-1 draw at Eastlands last term.

And Dunne is not expecting a second's peace when the pair do battle in the Premiership tomorrow.

"Paul is a nightmare to play against," admitted the Republic of Ireland international.

"Every defender in the league will tell you he is so annoying. You can't see him half the time, but you know he is there, nibbling away at your ankles.

"He is at you all the time. You don't get a free second. Every time you get the ball, you know he is going to be on top of you. He really is a right pain in the backside."