Lambert still unsure of Dunne's due date

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert has revealed he is no wiser regarding the fitness of Ireland defender Richard Dunne.

Dunne has yet to make an appearance for club or country this season, due to hip and groin injuries, and although Lambert insists he will have nothing to prove when he does return to fitness, neither the player or manager are sure when he will be due back.

Already the Dubliner is unlikely to feature in next month’s crucial qualifiers against Sweden and Austria, though he isn’t expected to require any more surgery.

His latest setback came a fortnight ago when he was named in the Aston Villa preliminary squad to face Newcastle before being withdrawn the morning of the game.

“I don’t know. He’s been having setbacks. We will have to see what the surgeon says. We are still no further forward but he doesn’t need another operation. He’s got to keep battling through it. He’s still a bit sore,” Lambert said in comments carried across major news agencies.

“I think first and foremost we need to get the guy back fit. That’s the big thing for me, to get Richard back fit as quickly as we can.

“Richard Dunne will not need to prove himself. I know what he can do. He doesn’t need to impress. He’s not 19 or 20 years old. The main thing for me is that he’s going to be fit again.”