JAMES Dunne’s last League Two outing for Swindon Town saw him find both the back of the net and an early bath, but the midfielder has no issue with giving his manager a problem by joining the rush for starting places.

Last month’s 2-2 draw at Crawley Town showcased the best and worst of the 28-year-old as his hassling qualities led to him opening his Town goal account before his exuberance got the better of him and he was ordered off for a wild challenge in the second half.

The subsequent three-match ban deprived Dunne of the chance to stake his claim for a regular start under Brown, either in the centre of the park or the right-back role in which is manager operated him in during pre-season.

With Kyle Knoyle starting his own three-match suspension after being given his marching orders at Morecambe last weekend, the latter position is up for grabs against Bury today and Dunne is happy that Brown’s selection mettle is being tested again.

“If you have competition in your side, it’s worse for the gaffer than it is for everybody else, but it means everyone wants to be on their game, or their shirt will be gone the next week,’’ said Dunne.

“It’s healthy so people don’t get comfortable. The gaffer is very open like that, if you have got a problem or want to know why you’re not playing, he will happily chat to you.”

Dunne could find himself employed in defence again and he added: “The gaffer came to me when we went on a pre-season tour to Spain and said ‘look, you’re not going to play centre midfield because we have so many players there, so to get you a game, what other position do you play?’

“Right-back was available and as long as I’m getting games, I don’t really mind.

“The gaffer obviously thinks I’m doing a good role there. We don’t know what the team starting yet is but Knoyley is out and Woolfey (Luke Woolfenden) went there (right-back) when Knoyley went off (at Morecambe), so we’ll just have to wait and see.

“Since the gaffer has come in, I’ve been allowed to go forward more but it allows me to get down the right and get back in (defence).’’

Competition for midfield places at Town is the most fiercely fought at present, but Dunne’s last outing there saw him break his club scoring duck

He added: “That sort of side to my game is what I think I’m best at (closing down). I thought it was just going to block it but I was delighted with that. That side of my game is good.

“I’m there at every celebration, one of the first players there, I love celebrating and obviously when it’s myself, it’s even better.

“I could celebrate it, but not a lot because it wasn’t exactly a very good goal. But a goal is a goal for me. I don’t really score a lot, so I will take them.’’