Hamstrung Dunn adds to Bruce's Cup misery

David Dunn, Birmingham City's record signing, is facing a lengthy spell out of action after suffering a recurrence of his hamstring injury in the FA Cup defeat against Sunderland.

Dunn had just returned after a month on the sidelines with the problem but lasted only eight minutes of the fifth-round replay at St Andrew's on Wednesday night before being carried off.

Steve Bruce, the Blues manager, is preparing for the worst when Dunn receives a full diagnosis. The injury came barely 24 hours after Bruce had claimed Dunn could force his way into England's Euro 2004 plans.

Bruce said: "It looks like a bad injury to me. We will know more in the next 24 to 48 hours - but when someone pulls up like Dunny did, you fear the worst. It is the hamstring problem we thought he had overcome. It is a big blow for him, and he is that player for us who has the creativity to unlock the opposition."