Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan has praised the attitude and commitment of his "last-chance saloon" defender Richard Dunne.
Republic of Ireland international Dunne was told by Keegan earlier in the campaign that he would be shown the door at Maine Road if there was a repeat of his off-the-field misdemeanours including turning up late for training.
The player was fined and suspended but has responded in such a positive manner that Keegan handed him his first game of the season in Saturday's 2-0 success over Birmingham City at St Andrews when he turned in an impressive display.
Keegan said: "In the last three weeks I've seen a determination and ambition from Richard to get himself in the sort of fit state that you've got to be, both mentally and physically, to play in the Premiership.
"His performance on Saturday at Birmingham mirrored that. He's worked very hard. Some days he's been in at 8.15 a.m. in the morning, 12 p.m., and then sometimes late in the afternoon.
"He's lost around a stone in weight but then he's only doing the things he should have done a long, long time ago.
"Richard has had a lot of problems and he's certainly in the last chance saloon with me. He's used all of his lives.
"But with him being fit, plus the ability he undoubtedly possesses, he is as good a defender as anybody in the Premier League - providing he keeps doing the right things."