Dunne in race against time to make Euro qualifier

RICHARD DUNNE is in Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad to play Macedonia in the all important Euro 2012 qualifier — but his Villa boss Gerard Houllier is unsure whether the Dubliner will be fit.

“He got the injury 15 days ago and these things take two to four weeks,” said the Frenchman.

Dunne tested it in training on Wednesday but it was not good enough for him to continue.

“It could be better in a week” he added. “He did not need an operation – it was a grade two injury.”

Dunne and fellow central defender James Collins have accepted their punishment, believed to be a fine of two weeks wages for their drunken antics at a hotel and spa where players met for a team bonding session.

Houllier was not involved in the disciplinary procedures. Senior management, described as “neutral” by Houllier, liased with the PFA and it is understood that the club were looking for longer than the two weeks wages fine the two players have apparently received.

“The club has dealt with it with credit, strongly and quickly, now we move onto the main target Wolverhampton Wanderers,” said the Villa boss about the incident at a hotel and health spa.

It is unusual for the club manager not to be involved but Houllier said he did not want to “prejudice” the enquiry.

The incident will not affect team spirit according to the Frenchman and the team bonding session was successful as the incident occurred when most of the team were tucked up in bed.

Meanwhile, Celtic manager Neil Lennon was yesterday handed a suspended fine by the Scottish FA following his latest appearance in front of the general purposes committee.

Lennon is currently in the middle of a four-match ban imposed following his dismissal against Hearts in November and subsequent reaction, which saw his automatic ban doubled for “excessive misconduct” in a decision finally reached following an appeal earlier this month.

Now the Celtic boss has been handed a suspended financial penalty following the match at Tynecastle.

A Scottish FA statement read: “The general purposes committee (today) imposed a fine of £5000 on Celtic manager Neil Lennon, suspended until June 30, 2012, for remarks made following the tie between Heart of Midlothian and Celtic in the Scottish Premier League on November 10, 2010.”