Dunne lifts Irish spirits

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI says that if the game against Macedonia was happening today, Richard Dunne would be able to play.

It’s the most upbeat assessment yet of the Aston Villa player’s recovery from the shoulder injury which saw him stay on an extra day at his club for further treatment before joining up with the rest of Irish squad at their Portmarnock hotel base.

And Trapattoni also believes that the big defender ought to be mentally as well as physically right for Saturday’s European Championship clash, despite the player having had to apologise for a booze-fuelled row with training staff at his club.