Dunn made a return to training and spent the whole pre–season regaining his fitness. He made his first appearance of the season, starting the whole game, in a 2–1 win against Colchester United in the opening game of the season. Since the start of the 2006–07 season, Dunn quickly became a first-team regular, playing in the midfield position. He then scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–2 draw against Ipswich Town on 16 September 2006. However, Dunn was plagued with injuries throughout the first half of the season. Amid to injuries, he was linked with a return to Blackburn in the upcoming transfer window in November, as Bruce said his departure from Birmingham City could be imminent. By the time he left the club, Dunn made eleven appearances and scored once in all competitions. Return to Blackburn Rovers On 17 January 2007, Dunn returned to Blackburn Rovers for an undisclosed fee on a three-and-a-half-year deal believed to be £2.2 million. He rejected a move to Bolton Wanderers in favour of returning to his boyhood club. On 3 February, Dunn played his first Premier League match since his return to Blackburn Rovers against Sheffield United and earned a free kick which led to Rovers scoring a last minute winner. After the match, he said: "It was good to be back out there again – it felt like I'd never been away. I was really touched by the reception I got from the fans – it was special for me." Dunn then played a role in the FA Cup fifth round replay against Arsenal when he set up a goal for Benni McCarthy to score the only goal of the game to advance to the next round. At the end of this campaign, despite injury problems, he managed to feature in a total of 16 games in all competitions, including appearing in 11 Premier League matches. Dunn started the 2007–08 season well, scoring in a 1–1 draw against Arsenal. Manager Mark Hughes praised Dunn's performance after the match. Since the start of the 2007–08 season, Dunn's place in the midfield position proved to be resurrection of his football career. He then set up two goals in two matches between 7 October and 20 October against his former club Birmingham City and Reading. Dunn started in every match since the start of the 2007–08 season until he was sent–off for