Fulham boss gave Blackburn's Dunn his league debut

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is delighted David Dunn is fit and on top form for Blackburn, more than a decade after giving the Rovers midfielder his break in professional football.

Dunn has been the catalyst behind Rovers' recent revival which has seen them climb above Fulham into 11th place in the Premier League ahead of Wednesday's clash between the sides at Craven Cottage.

Hodgson knows all about the 29-year-old having handed the player his top-flight debut in September 1998 when he was manager of Blackburn.

"He's a player who, during his best years, got blighted with some quite serious injuries that kept him out for months and months at a time," Hodgson said.

"He's been unlucky with injuries and it's obvious that's had an effect.

"But his strength is, despite all that, he's back now and to see him back and doing well is great.

"I gave him his debut. He was a very good player as an 18-year when he came into the team in 1998. He is obviously a very gifted player."