By Rob Bishop

His debut campaign in claret and blue could hardly have gone much better, so much so that he is regarded by many - including his manager - as the bargain buy of last summer's transfer market.

Yet it is Richard Dunne's reaction to his two major disappointments of 2009-10 which best illustrate the single-minded attitude which makes him such an outstanding footballer.

One was the Republic of Ireland's controversial World Cup exit in Paris, when Thierry Henry's blatant hand-ball led to France's winning goal; the other was Villa's defeat by Manchester United in the Carling Cup final three weeks ago.

On both occasions, though, he immediately looked to the future rather than reflecting on what might have been.

Within a few days of the World Cup play-off, he was battling away in dreadful conditions to help Villa take a point at Burnley; a week after the Carling final, he was helping his team-back to Wembley for the FA Cup semi-finals.

"I don't look back on things I can't change. There's nothing I can do about it so I don't think about it. I always look ahead, so now I'm looking forward to a successful end to the season.

"I was gutted when we lost at Wembley. It was my first final and we went there aiming to lift the trophy but it wasn't to be. But fortunately we have the chance to go back - and hopefully reach another final.

"I think the Carling Cup final could benefit us in the long run. We've been to Wembley and lost - we don't want to experience that again. When the game against Chelsea comes around, we will be ready for it. We've already beaten them this season and we don't fear anybody. On our day we're as good as any team, so will go into the semi-final full of confidence."

Confidence is a word which has epitomised Richard Dunne over the past decade, both during nine successful years with Manchester City and more recently as a Villa player.

His performances at the heart of the defence have been of such a consistently that Martin O'Neill has described him as "fantastic value."

"It's nice that people think that," he says. "For me, though, it's all about proving myself and showing that Martin was right to sign me. I had options to go to other places but I chose Villa because of what had happened here over the past couple of seasons.

"I could see the progress being made by the club and I'm really thankful that I came here. It's about repaying the faith the manager showed in me.

"I've been made to feel really welcome, we've had had a reasonably successful season so far.

"I hoped things would work out like this when I came here, but I was aware that moving club doesn't always mean you will be successful.

"But the new lads all settled in quickly, and our results have obviously helped to create a good atmosphere around the place."

Dunne's fine form has just earned him the Lions Clubs' Player of the Month award for February, his second of the season. And while he is some way behind James Milner, who has received four monthly awards, such honours are nothing new to the Irishman - he was City's Player of the Year in four consecutive seasons.

"It's good when the fans are behind you, and if they see fit to reward you with an award, that's great. I'm really pleased. But the most important thing is that we have a good squad of players and everyone puts the effort in. The fans like to see a team of triers."

Quite apart from his immense contribution to the tightest defence in the Barclays Premier League, Dunne has also ventured forward on numerous occasions, scoring three goals - more than he has ever previously managed in one season - and having a big hand in another as Villa beat Blackburn Rovers 6-4 in that incredible Carling Cup semi-final second leg.

"I started the season really well and scored a few early on," he says. "Hopefully I can add a couple more by the end.

"The semi-final against Blackburn was a great game. There was a tremendous atmosphere around the place that night.

"But for me, the most important thing is defending. If a chance arises, great, but first and foremost we've based our season on keeping as many clean sheets as possible. That's the main job for those at the back.

"That's been a pleasing thing for the defenders - and for the whole team, really. We've had little spells where we've not scored goals but we've still picked up results, which was important.

"As a team, we defend and attack together. The work-rate throughout the side is brilliant, and every time the ball bounces there's always someone in a Villa jersey ready to challenge for it.

"We would all like to get forward and score goals but realistically, we are defenders."

Villa, of course, can win a trophy this season, while Dunne's former club can't, despite their massive outlay on new players. Not that he concerns himself with the second part of that equation.

"If we win the Cup, that's brilliant. If Man City don't win anything, that doesn't give me any satisfaction. I've moved on and Villa mean everything to me now."