Defender back for Chelsea game

Last updated : 15 October 2002 By CityMAD
The 23-year-old Republic of Ireland international was suspended by manager Kevin Keegan due to a lack of fitness and failing to turn up for training.

However, Keegan now believes a special diet has helped Dunne return to full fitness.

Keegan told the club's official website: "Richard has always been in the frame, when he has been out of the frame he took himself out of it for one reason or another. Dunne is certainly a lot fitter now and I feel that he is a lot more hungry. I notice a big difference in him.

"He will definitely come back into the squad for the Chelsea game and I have told him that already. He has played two reserve games and is fit as a fiddle now.

"You don't have to be a genius to work out that the way in which he has prepared in the last two or three years of his life for football he has sort of got away with it.

"If he prepares properly, and the signs are he is doing that now, he could come on and be a lot better than he has been which would be fantastic for us and even better for him."

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