Initially a centre back by trade, Dublin graduated the Norwich City FC academy in 1988, before moving on a free transfer to Cambridge United FC. His new side adapted his role, spying his potential as a forward player. He would quickly repay the club's faith with a string of quality performances.
Dublin became the first-ever scorer in a play-off final at Wembley, on the way to leading the club to unprecedented glory. His goal-scoring prowess was to be a key factor in Cambridge United FC's successive promotions, first to the third division and then to the second division. In his final season at the club, he would lead the line as Cambridge won a playoff place in the second division, their highest ever position in the football league.
A move to the Premier League beckoned in 1992, and it was Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United FC who secured his signature, for a sum of £1 million. After immediately endearing himself to the United faithful with a last-minute winner away at Southampton FC, Dublin's season was all but ended by injury after he suffered a broken leg in the second month of the season.
He recovered towards the end of the season to play a part in Manchester United's first title win in 25 years, but his appearances would be restricted due to the arrival of Eric Cantona and Mark Hughes.
He moved to Coventry City FC in 1994, where he would become one of the Premier League's most feared strikers. He played a central role in helping the club pull off one of the Premier League's great escapes in 1997. Coventry City FC won at Anfield, with Dublin scoring in the final seconds, before winning against Chelsea FC and in the final game away at Spurs where Dublin would score first in a dramatic final day 2-1 win.
The 1997-98 season would see him form a formidable partnership with Darren Huckerby as Coventry managed a mid-table finish and Dublin joined Chris Sutton and Michael Owen as the league's top scorer.
An impressive spell at Aston Villa FC duly followed - after transferring for £5.25 million. Dublin scored 48 goals in 155 games, helping the club to their first FA Cup final in four decades in the process. Spells at Leicester City FC, Celtic FC, Millwall FC and Norwich City FC followed to complete a memorable career for the striker.
After hanging up his boots, Dublin has been a fixture of football coverage, mainly on Sky Sports where he was a popular Super Sunday presenter. He has co-presented 606 on BBC Radio 5 Live and Match of the Day 2 in recent times, showing he is one of the nation's most popular football pundits and football speaker.
