Dunne expected to make Italy date

07 October 2009 13:17
However, manager Giovanni Trapattoni is hopeful the Aston Villa star will be fit to take his place in the side for Saturday's crucial World Cup Group Eight qualifier against Italy.[LNB]Dunne, 30, picked up the knock in a challenge with Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong in Monday night's 1-1 Premier League draw.[LNB]But he is expected to return to training either on Thursday or Friday.[LNB]Assistant manager Liam Brady said: "Richard has got a bruised ankle and that's why he hasn't trained this morning, but we fully expect him to be fit for the weekend.[LNB]"He will possibly join in tomorrow or the day after."[LNB]On-loan Middlesbrough defender Sean St Ledger watched the latter part of the morning's session from the dug-out with a sore thigh, but he was expected to rejoin the group on Wednesday afternoon.[LNB]Midfielders Damien Duff, Steven Reid and Darron Gibson have already been ruled out of the game through injury, along with striker Caleb Folan.[LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk