Dunne not retiring but will miss summer friendlies

Richard Dunne has no plans to retire as an international player but, even though he is prepared to make himself available for selection for Ireland’s Euro 2016 campaign, he says he has to accept the possibility that he might already have played his last game for his country.

The veteran defender also revealed yesterday that, with QPR aiming to be involved in the Championship play-offs, he has decided to skip Ireland’s summer friendly schedule.

“Personally, I think I know what’s important for me and at the end of a nearly 50-game season, I think rest is as important as anything,” said Dunne, a fetching black eye reinforcing how physical a league the Championship is. “But when September comes around I will be available. The manager knows what I can do, I worked with him for a year [at Aston Villa], so I’ll be there if he needs me.”