BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today admitted Rovers have missed the attacking qualities of David Dunn this season.

Souness and his players will come face to face with Dunn for the first time since he left for Birmingham when the two teams meet at St Andrews tomorrow.

And Souness has identified the former Ewood favourite as one of the players his defenders must keep a close eye on if Rovers are to win back-to-back games for the first time this season.

"We've missed his goals. I don't know how many he got for us last season but he certainly got a few the year before," said Souness.

"He's also got imagination and flair in that last third and that's the strongest point to his game.

"If he can get into the last third, that's where he does his damage so we've got to look to keep him out of there."

Souness's relationship with Dunn began to show signs of deteriorating last season when the Rovers boss publicly criticised the 24-year-old's lifestyle in the Press.

That drove a wedge between the pair that ultimately led to Dunn rejecting the offer of a new contract in the summer and deciding on a move to Birmingham.

But although Souness insists he never wanted him to leave, he still stands by his comments.

"It's a manager's job to try to get the best out of his players - a big part of his job," said Souness.

"There was a time last year when we felt David could maybe look at his lifestyle and do a wee bit more on the pitch, but that's every manager's prerogative.

"But there was certainly no bad feeling. He didn't leave here with any bad feeling.

"We were disappointed he wanted to go, as we were with Damien Duff going, but that's football.

"David saw his future somewhere else but when he left here, he went with all our good wishes and that remains the case.

"When he gets a bit older and looks back on the people who have influenced him, I would like to think he will look back on his time here and think that working with people like me, Dean Saunders, Phil Boersma and Tony Parkes has in some little way helped him to become whatever he ends up becoming."

When asked how far he thinks Dunn might go in the game, Souness added: ""He's got great ability but having great ability is only a part of being a great player and I'm sure David, above anyone else, still realises he's got a lot to do."

As for tomorrow's game, Souness insists it should not be billed as a clash between him and his former protg.

"David will be excited about playing against us because he'll be playing against some of his old mates, and some of his old mates will be excited about playing against him.

"There will be some friendly banter and it will be competitive, which is the way it should be.

"But it's all about the three points that are at stake."

Meanwhile, Garry Flitcroft has been ruled out tomorrow with a groin injury.

The skipper was due to have a pain-killing injection today but Souness has confirmed the skipper will play no part.