then spend the next two months playing for the reserve side, though he did return to the first-team once, coming against Leeds United in the third round of the League Cup. On 6 November, Dunn returned to the first-team, where he started a match and played 83 minutes before being substituted, in a 2–2 draw against Ipswich Town. Dunn started in the next two matches before he returned to the reserve side for a month until on 28 December 1999 against Portsmouth, starting the whole game, winning 2–1. Dunn then regained his first-team place for the rest of the 1999–2000 season. His lack of first-eam opportunities led him to a transfer request, only to be rejected by Blackburn Rovers. He later withdrew the transfer request a month later. Dunn then scored two goals in two matches between 18 March and 22 March against Fulham and Birmingham City. Despite suffering injuries during the 1999–2000 season, Dunn made twenty–six appearances and scored three times in all competitions. At the start of the 2000–01 season, Dunn became a first-team regular, establishing himself in the starting eleven, playing in the midfield position. On 26 August, he scored his first goal of the season, in a 3–2 win against Norwich City. This was followed up when Blackburn entertained Rochdale in the League Cup, where Dunn scored a hat-trick from the penalty spot. He then scored in the next two matches, against Nottingham Forest and Watford. Two weeks later on 26 September, Dunn scored his seventh goal of the season, in a 1–1 draw against Portsmouth. He reached double figures in terms of goals in 2000 after scoring five more goals, including a brace against Crystal Palace on 22 December. Along the way, Dunn was suspended on three occasions. After his performances attracted interests from top division clubs, Blackburn Rovers began open talks with him over a new contract. It was announced on 14 February that he signed a four-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until 2005. During the same month, Dunn added three more goals in February, including scoring against Bolton Wanderers in two separate matches. His performances throughout February earned him the Young Player of the Month award. He then scored three goals throughout April and then helped Blackburn achieve promotion back to the Premier League for the first time since 1999. At the end of the 2000–01 season, Dunn made fifty–two