Given: Steely Dunne will be okay

Shay Given is confident Richard Dunne will be fit for the European Championship finals amid fears the defender’s recovery from a broken collarbone could yet see him in a race against time to get back on the pitch before the tournament begins in June.

Given also revealed his Aston Villa and Ireland team-mate has had pins inserted in the bone during major surgery on the injury, which the Irish Player of the Year nominee sustained when falling heavily during a recent game against Manchester City.

“Speaking to the doctor at the club, I think he’ll be alright,” said Given. “He’s had a pretty big operation on his shoulder and they’ve pinned it and they’ll have to come out at some stage. I dislocated my left shoulder and tore a tendon in the other, but his is an actual broken collarbone, so it’s more of bone injury and the pins will be in position until it’s healed together. We all know how strong Dunney is so even if the bone doesn’t heal properly, he’ll still be playing.