Warrior Dunne may be thrown in at deep end

Richard Dunne could be thrown back into the fray for tonight’s battle of the wounded giants as Aston Villa host Newcastle United in the Premier League, (7.45pm).

With both sides locked in a struggle just above the relegation zone, embattled Villa boss Paul Lambert badly needs the boost of three points to keep the Birmingham club out of the bottom three.

And that could see him turning to his own wounded giant in the form of the Irish centre-half who, following operations on groin and hip problems, has not kicked a ball in anger since the European Championship finals in Poland in June and has only been back in training for one week at his club.