GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI HAS confirmed that Richard Dunne will feature in Ireland’s friendly with Georgia today, suggesting the defender is likely to get “30-45 minutes” of game time this evening.
Dunne has failed to play a competitive game of football since Euro 2012, after suffering from persistent hip and groin injuries, and was last month let go by Aston Villa seemingly on account of these problems.
However, despite his lack of first-team action in recent times, Trapattoni is confident Dunne is in a fit enough condition to represent Ireland at the Aviva Stadium today.
Nevertheless, the veteran coach said Dunne wouldn’t be considered for Friday’s World Cup qualifier with the Faroe Islands, and added: “After this game, we can evaluate [Dunne's] physical condition.”
Meanwhile, Shane Long said he was looking forward to the prospect of having the defender back in the side, and suggested he has shown few ill effects in training despite being sidelined for so long.
“He’s still a rock at the back and knows the game inside out,” the West Brom striker said. “He loves playing for his country, so I’m sure you’ll see the Richard Dunne of old tomorrow.”
