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Dunne hints at City stay

Image: Dunne: Could stay at City

Richard Dunne has admitted the arrival of Mark Hughes as Man City manager could tempt him to stay at Eastlands.

City skipper impressed by Hughes move

Manchester City captain Richard Dunne has admitted the arrival of Mark Hughes as manager could tempt him to stay at Eastlands. The 28-year-old has been strongly linked with Tottenham and Portsmouth this summer and was last week reported to be all set for a £5million move to Fratton Park. Former boss Sven Goran Eriksson's long-expected departure, confirmed on Monday, was thought to be a factor in the defender's discontent. However the appointment of Hughes as Eriksson's successor could see the Republic of Ireland rethink his plans of leaving the club.

Impressed

"It was disappointing that Sven had to leave, but in Mark Hughes we have got an exciting young manager who has done particularly well at Blackburn," Dunne told the Manchester Evening News. "Premier League experience does count for a lot and he has proved that he can mix it with the best over the last few seasons. "No team ever relished going to Ewood Park when he was in charge. They established themselves as a top-10 side and did well in the cups too." He added: "I will have to wait and see now which way the club is going to go. There is certainly the need for some stability." Dunne was briefly a team-mate of Hughes' at Everton and he is confident the Welshman can be a major success at City.
Highly-regarded
"I know from speaking to players who have been in his side that he is a disciplined and highly-regarded coach, and that bodes well for the club," he said. "I had a season with him at Goodison when I was just breaking into the side and he was always a great professional who made time to speak to people and give them advice, and he has taken to management really well."