Crowd favourite Sun Jihai's self-confident style has not only won him a place back in the team, but also drawn praise from his manager.

The Chinese International - a big success at right-back - lost his place through suspension but has replaced the injured Gary Naysmith on the other flank with equal effectiveness.

Kevin Blackwell, recognising the new dimension Sun brings to the side, adds:

"He is very competent and composed on the ball, joins in and goes forward with confidence, although he takes risks like he did in the 18 yard box at Bristol the other night.

"He was doing stepovers and holding their player off for what seemed like ten minutes before getting free-kick. To be fair, he is very accomplished but I have warned him that if it costs a goal he will feel my wrath!

"The man believes in himself and we are comfortable with him on the ball because he is positive and makes things happen."

Blackwell did his homework on Sun, speaking to Stuart Pearce and Derek Fazackerley, before bringing him in from Manchester City:

"They told me that he is very versatile, and his English is very good but he is very astute about how much he pretends to know.

"When he is due to be fined he reckons he doesn't understand, but when there is praise being handed out he knows only too well what is being said - very clever!"