Shoulder injury leaves Dunne dusted for eight weeks

Giovanni Trapattoni will hope Richard Dunne’s recovery goes according to plan following confirmation that the rock of the Republic of Ireland defence could be out for up to two months after he fractured a collarbone in Aston Villa’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.

Dunne was undergoing surgery in Birmingham yesterday, after sustaining the injury when he fell heavily on his right shoulder while challenging City keeper Joe Hart for a high ball in the dying moments of the game at Villa Park.

After the FAI had revealed the nature of the injury, Aston Villa confirmed it in a statement, saying: “Richard Dunne sustained a fracture to his right clavicle in the game against Manchester City. He will undergo an operation today in Birmingham. It is anticipated that he will be sidelined for up to eight weeks.”

That prognosis would bring Dunne’s recovery period through to mid-April and, barring any further complication arising from the injury, it means that he should be fully fit for the European Championship finals in June.

Trapattoni reacted to news of Dunne’s lay-off by calling up a player he’d only last week deemed one for the future, for the friendly game against the Czech Republic in Dublin at the end of this month.

Shane Duffy has his own remarkable recovery story to tell, of course, the U21 cap having suffered a freak injury when he ruptured his hepatic artery during a senior training game in May of last year, following which the 20 year old required life-saving surgery.

Happily, the defender recovered and is now a rising star at Everton, his call-up to the senior Ireland squad a statement of Trapattoni’s belief in the player’s potential given that he could have opted to stick with the familiar by recalling Paul McShane.

Duffy was thrilled with his call-up, writing on his Twitter page: “Can’t thank everyone enough for all the tweets still buzzing!! Thanks cant wait now!’’

Although he was very much an outside bet to make the Euros plane, Dunne’s fellow Villa defender Ciaran Clark is also in the wars after sustaining a knee injury in training that will keep him out for a few weeks, according to Villa boss Alex McLeish.