Second coming good for City – Stringer

Dion Dublin is now twice as old as when he had his first spell with Norwich City - but the manager who gave him a trial in 1988 believes he can still do a job at Carrow Road.

Dion Dublin is now twice as old as when he had his first spell with Norwich City - but the manager who gave him a trial in 1988 believes he can still do a job at Carrow Road.

Dave Stringer was City boss when Leicester-born Dublin arrived as an 18-year-old and played 12 Combination matches, scoring four goals.

Stringer, whose attacking armoury at the time included Kevin Drinkell, Robert Fleck, Wayne Biggins and Robert Rosario, decided not to add another forward to his squad and Dublin was not kept on at the end of the 1987-88 campaign.

But he admitted he had been impressed with the teenager and pleased with the way his career developed.

Sad Stringer: “At the time, we were doing quite well and as a team we had quite a lot of forward players.

“Dion came from Leicester and he was friendly with Dale Gordon because he had a family connection in Caister, where Dale lived.

“He asked if we would take him on a trial basis. He did well in the reserves, who were managed by Mike Walker at the time, scored a few goals and was certainly a skilful player.

“But a judgment had to be made as to whether we should increase the squad of players and therefore the wage bill.

“Dion went to Cambridge United and he was very successful there. It was a good move and I was pleased to see him do well there and of course he moved on to Manchester United, then on to Coventry and Aston Villa and has had a very successful career.”

Stringer feels the 37-year-old Dublin still has something to offer.

“Now he's in the twilight of his career but provided he has retained his fitness he can still do a good job for Nigel. I'm sure he sees Dion as a good addition to the squad, possibly as a foil for Robert Earnshaw.”