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Dion the TV pundit is for the future. Right now it is all about a point at Charlton.

17th September 2007 By Latest News Leave a Comment

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There will, it seems, be a time in the none too distant future when Dion Dublin will be on this side of the fence – the one where you are asking the questions as opposed to answering them with his usual candour and grace.

For read City's match-day programme on Saturday and that is clearly where the 38-year-old sees his career heading – into Media-ville and a place either behind the Radio Five Live mike or sat next to Alan and the boys on a TV sofa. He's already got one eye on a Euro2008 gig.

In the meantime, however, the widely-respected Canary star is doing his very best to bow out on a high playing-wise after masterminding a hugely welcome clean sheet in Saturday's 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.

With a doubt still lingering over Jason Shackell's match fitness following his recent ankle ligament injury, there is every chance that the 38-year-old will be back on centre stage at The Valley again tomorrow night – leading the Norfolk club out against a Charlton side that, not unreasonably, are widely considered to be one of the big favourites for promotion this season.

It will be a big, big test of Norwich's resolve – nick even a point and Dublin will happily walk away with another feather in his '07-08 cap.

?I'd have to say that Charlton is one of the toughest places to go to in this league – without a doubt.

?I've played there a few times before with other clubs and they do temd to be in your face – you don't really get a lot of time. As you don't with most clubs. You don't get much chance to play the game.?

There is a large streak of realism that runs right through Dublin; that playing 'the Norwich way' might not always work on nights like these; on some nights you just take a point and run.

?If we get a win, then brilliant. But I'd be happy with a point going to Charlton, to be honest with you.

?It might sound negative, but it's real,? he said. ?We shall see. It's going to be a very important game and an interesting game.?

What is interesting is the influence that Dublin continues to exert on this Canary side – even in what promises to be his last, full season as a professional footballer.

For over and above his calming influence at the back, Dublin has already bagged two goals whenever he's been thrown in up front – one away at Hull City, the other at Rochdale. Both were the kind of finishes that suggests his eye for goal is as sharp as ever.

Come Saturday and it was Dublin rising highest at the far post to nod Simon Lappin's 75th minute corner back in David Strihavka's direction. He is, in short, not someone that you would easily drop even if the games are arriving thick and fast – with all the travelling in between.

?There's no breathers to be had,? said Dublin, looking forward to that small trip to Wolves this Saturday.

?I say it gets worse – it just gets harder,? he added. ?We play Charlton – Premier League side; we go to Wolves – Premier League clubl; then we've got a Premier League team the following week.

?It's not easy, but that's our job. We have to peak at the right times and we're now preparing ourselves to peak tomorrow.?

Read his piece in the match-day programme and there was little hint that Dublin was in a mood to be either rotated or rested. ?The body is holding out,? Dublin said in the programme.

?It feels good and it feels strong and ready as ever… I feel good and as fit as anything… I'm doing a few extra training sessions to keep myself as strong as everybody else…?

It was a theme that continued at Colney this morning; suggestions that: 'Oooh, at your age you must be in need of a rest…' probably wouldn't go down too well.

?He can rest everybody else – I'm happy to play, to be honest,? said Dublin, his recent switch back to centre-half probably keeping his legs that much fresher.

Half the time, he appears to stroll it – nine times out of ten, he's in position to receive the ball almost from the moment it's been hit. There is very little need to waste either time or energy when you read the game that well.

The fact that his one-time Coventry strike pal Darren Huckerby is back and starting to fire on a few more cylinders clearly helps.

?Hucks is back which is a massive, massive boost for us – having him in the team with his pace and his quality made a massive difference for us at the weekend,? said Dublin, well aware that Jason Shackell's impending return from injury poses one selection question; how Julien Brellier, Simon Lappin and Huckerby mix and match on that left-hand side of the team another.

?The gaffer's got decisions to make – and I'm sure he'll make the right ones.?

Shackell's return would also see the captain's armband pass on. It sat very comfortably on Dublin's arm.

?Enjoyed it – like I said, I like the responsibility; I like the pressure. I like having to get results and I hope the boys enjoy them,? said Dublin, insisting that he shouldn't have to guide anyone through a game at this level – even if he was spotted having a word in Strihavka's ear in the run-up to this weekend's winner.

?You shouldn't have to talk players through a game in this league – if they can't sort themselves out then they shouldn't be playing in this league. As simple as that,? said Dublin.

The nature of this Championship beast was fully on display again on Saturday when Bristol City sprang the big surprise of the day with that 3-0 win away at leaders Coventry City. They're on a roll now; a dash of consistency – that's all you need.

?They obviously deserve to be where they are – they've done very well; they've got their wins, their points and we haven't. As yet.

?All of us have spoken so many times over the time that I've been here about consistency and we haven't had any at all. None at all. And we need to start to do it,? said Dublin, back wearing his Championship reality hat.

?I'm not saying that we've got to win or draw every game, but you need to get something from your home games – and the game that's just gone on Saturday, that's the thing that we need to do. Grind out 1-0s.?


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