Updated at 14.18
IRELAND AND ASTON Villa defender Richard Dunne has had a third operation in America in an attempt to cure a troublesome hip injury.
The Villa defender has not played since Ireland’s ill-fated Euro 2012 campaign, and is still struggling despite two rounds of surgery.
Speaking to reporters, Villa manager Paul Lambert said he was eager to have Dunne back in the team:
“‘Dunny’ got hurt at the Euros and it’s never really cleared up. I think that’s where it’s come from.
“He had another operation yesterday in America so hopefully once and for all that will be cleared up.
“I think America was the only place he could get that done. He’ll come back in the next few days and hopefully then start his rehab and get going again.
“It’s all stemmed from his hip area.
“We tried to sort out one thing and then it went to another, then it’s gone to another thing. I’ve never seen anything like this. I don’t think the medical people have seen anything like this.”
And Lambert said that the club would not be seeking compensation from the FAI for the injury, despite it taking place while Dunne was on Ireland duty.
“I’ve not gone down that road. Injuries can happen to players, sometimes you get to the bottom of it, sometimes it takes longer than you think.”
Dunne now faces a race to be fit in time for Ireland’s pivotal World Cup qualifier away to Sweden in March.
