Bolton set to sign Dunn for £2.2m

Steve Bruce has expressed his regret that injuries prevented David Dunn from showing his best form for Birmingham as the player prepares to complete a £2.2m move to Bolton, despite a late bid from Blackburn to sign their former player.

Bruce confirmed Dunn had passed a medical at the Reebok Stadium and did not expect personal terms to be a problem for the 27-year-old. Dunn cost £5.5m when he moved from Blackburn to St Andrews in 2003 but a back problem that affected his hamstrings meant he was out of action for almost two years.

Bruce believes the former England Under-21 captain will benefit from a change of environment. He said: "As we speak, Dunny is in talks with Bolton. He has been there for the best part of a week. His injuries are well documented and knowing Sam Allardyce and the medical staff at Bolton, they would have done every test possible. We have been told in the past half hour that he has passed all tests as part of the medical.

"I would expect now that the personal terms will be thrashed out. That is not going to take long so I expect he will sign for Bolton. I kept reading that Blackburn were going to make a counter bid. We had received nothing from them but they have been in contact in the last hour, but I think it is too late.

"Dunny has already decided he is going down the route of signing for Bolton and in any case Blackburn still haven't met our valuation of the player. It is a total package of £2.2m but a lot of that is obviously based on appearances. We feel a change of environment, a change of scenery will benefit him and wish him well."