JOE meets Richard Dunne

JOE spent some time in the company of Irish talisman Richard Dunne as he faces into recovery from injury, a relegation battle with Aston Villa and a European Championship with Ireland.

Don’t jinx it. Don’t say anything. Touch wood.  Whisper it quietly. Richard Dunne is on the mend.

Tales, songs and internet memes have immortalised his virtuoso performance against Russia in Moscow, as he did his best impression of Leonidas and his three hundred Spartans fending off the Persian hordes at Thermoplyae.

That may be slight hyperbole, but let’s face it – can you imagine us going into the Euros without the big man from Tallaght?

Can you imagine the collective bowel movements of a nation upon finding out that a collar bone injury sustained in February meant we faced Croatia, Italy and Spain without Dunne? Maybe you don’t want to…

The scribes of Irish football journalism fortuitously had the opportunity to gather at the launch of Three’s new Samsung Supporter’s Kit and talk to the man himself, the day after Alex McLeish announced that Dunne is back training to get the lowdown.

“Are you fit?”

“How’s the collar bone?”

“Are you sure you’re fit?”

“Will you get any game time between now and the Euros?”

“Are you sure, you’re sure that you’re fit?”

Dunne is placid, calm in answering the freeting journalists questions, as reassuring in assuaging our queries as as he is to others in the defences he marshals.

“It’s just one of those injuries that takes time to heal, I had to go to the doctor every couple of weeks and last Friday he says ‘You’re fine. Go ahead go and do what you want’.”

Dunne reckons he’ll be fine and if he’s not back for one of Villa’s remaining three matches of the season, the club has graciously decided to lay on a few training ground friendly matches for him to play in and ensure he’s ready for the Euros.

“I’ve got this big pad which has to go over it and it’s alright getting a knock on it, but I’m not allowed have contact in training, but when I go back next week I will, it’s in your mind that it’s sore.

I can understand it, if we’re not qualifying no one is really going to be interested and no one is going to cheer you, but as things have gone on, especially in the second leg of the playoff, the atmosphere in the stadium was brilliant.

Basically I just need someone to run up behind me and smack me in it and then I’ll know…I know it’s going to be sore, but it’s not going to break because it’s all plated and probably stronger than before,” says Dunne.

“It’s just that initial knock…you’re probably better not doing it, but maybe you should just run into a wall and see if it’s alright…it’s a psychological thing… I thought I was physically ready about four weeks ago.”

Dunne shows the gathered press the scar just off his shoulder; it looks nasty. No one asks to place their hand on the wound alá Saint Thomas, we believe in our latest defensive messiah, it’s that reassuring presence again.

Against Holland eleven years ago while still in his early twenties Dunne held firm against a Dutch side that at one stage had fielded five world-class attackers. It was a performance that rivalled the one against Russia nearly a decade later. Despite that, Dunne didn’t get any game time in World Cup 2002.

While he remembers those times fondly, at the time he concedes he probably found it a bit frustrating. Was he worried when the injury hit that he’d miss another major championship?

“No, the doctor has been brilliant with us. From literally going into the dressing room and sitting me down ,getting tested and checked over, he said ‘listen it’s going to three to four months, you’ll be fine.

"He came over to watch the play-offs and he’s really excited – he’s friends with myself and Shay (Given) and Damien (Duff)” says Richard about when he was injured against his old club Man City in February.

“He wanted to make sure I was there and I think that was the first thing on his mind. To make sure I was reassured,” Dunne continues before revealing that the doctor in question is Villa’s Ian McGuinness who was with Duff and Given when at Newcastle and is a Glasgow Rangers supporter.

Dunne is feeling he good vibes now. He had been vocal about how some people had been very downhearted about the national team in comparison to other sports last year.

“I can understand it, if we’re not qualifying no one is really going to be interested and no one is going to cheer you, but as things have gone on, especially in the second leg of the playoff, the atmosphere in the stadium was brilliant. I don’t think anyone was particularly interested in the football, but the atmosphere was good!

If that carries on and builds up then it can become something that we’ve all experienced when we were younger in 1990 and something we can all enjoy.”

As Dunne and Ireland progress quietly and assuredly, little cracks can be observed all around in other teams.

Robbie played brilliant when he was there as he scored all the goals and he really helped us and when he left it’s difficult to cover up for.

His club Aston Villa find themselves in a precarious situation with three matches left to go in the season and only three points off the drop zone.

“It’s not gone great; it’s been a tough season for us. The amount of injuries that we’ve had hasn’t helped us and it seems like all the experienced that have been injured as well. We’ve not got the biggest squad and with the injuries we’ve had… it’s just been one of those seasons,” says Dunne, whose return will hopefully buoy a team that looks brittle and deflated on the field at the moment.

The financial constraints that owner Randy Lerner has imposed on the club haven’t helped, but needed to be done. “It’s very hard for us because we’ve sold our best players at the end of every season I’ve been there. We’ve probably sold England’s midfield with Barry and Milner and Downing and Young gone – it’s hard, but wages have to be cut and things need to be done.

"We’ve relied a lot on the young lads and as good as they are it’s tough in their first season to have that expectation put on them.“

Your JOE correspondent pipes up, mentioning a brief period when Dunne’s international captain and fellow Tallaght man Robbie Keane arrived on loan from LA Galaxy and injected a sense of optimism in Villa. That optimism borne of Keane’s impressive performances dissipated nearly as soon as he left.

Dunne gives a considered answer, “It’s hard because Robbie was coming into the group as a leader and then he’s gone and everybody starts getting injured.

Robbie played brilliant when he was there as he scored all the goals and he really helped us and when he left it’s difficult to cover up for. On top of that Darren Bent gets injured, I get injured, James Collins been out and Stillian (Petrov) has been ill.

It’s just been a culmination of injuries that has really been unfortunate for us. “

Chelsea were outstanding in their concentration and defence and that is probably the minimum we have to do.

Dunne was watching another big blow to Villa from the stands as Bolton beat Villa 2-1 the same night that Chelsea shocked Europe by knocking out Barcelona. Dunne caught some of the match afterwards and knew what happened. Is the way Chelsea overcame the odds by keeping it tight, narrowing the space and absorbing pressure, the gameplan Ireland will adopt against Spain?

“I don’t know if that’s the game plan or necessity because they just have so much possession. Chelsea were outstanding in their concentration and defence and that is probably the minimum we have to do. When we do have the ball we won’t have it for very long so we’ve got to make the most of it…”

Madrid and particularly Barcelona have have had long seasons, volunteered JOE - is that advantage to Ireland to have them both weary and possibly deflated following their failed Champions League exploits?

“Yeah possibly… they’re all top players and they’re going to be excited as anyone to be going to championships and winning it again, especially Barcelona – they’re not going to win anything this season so they’ll want to end it on high. That’s just one game though, the Croatians and the Italians are going to as much a test as well.

Another journo points out that Spain have had so much success in recent years that, unlike Italy and Croatia, the hunger might not be there?

Dunne again gives the considered, calm, reassuring answer. “It does happen… it probably becomes harder each time. I can maybe understand it at club level where you’ve got as many chances at possible, but at national level it’s not very often… and you want to make everyone at home proud of you and they’re the favourites.”

Dunne isn’t grasping at straws he knows what a massive challenge faces Ireland come June and is just facing up to it.

Before he leaves news had filtered through in the past hours that England may appoint Pearce to their vacant position of coach. Dunne played under him at City what does he reckon of that manic, chaotic situation?

“It's strange the way things are going. It looks like Stuart Pearce is the manager because he did the press conference about the Olympics and announcing when he’s going to name the Euro squad too so they seem to have put all their trust in him at the moment. It’s just odd that if he’s picking the squad and someone else is going to be managing them.”

Dunne though has respect for Pearce and thinks it might be a good option for the FA.

“He’s really good. He studies everything and he knows everything inside out and if someone else takes over he’ll have everything to give to them.

"He’s also a man that has his own ideas and when he’s with the England Under 21s they’ve always done very well, so I’m sure he’ll have them well prepared and ready to go and put a good show on at the tournament.”

The manic press corps has been calmed by the rock at Ireland’s defence for the moment. But times of crisis will come again.

Finally will Dunne consider retiring after the Euros will he be there to guide us through any future turmoil?

“At the moment I haven’t had that thought because two years away is a long time in football terms. The Euros is a big thing for me and that’s what I want to concentrate on.”

Typical Dunne; calm, reliable and reassuring. What would we do without him?

Richard Dunne was in Dublin to announce the launch of the Three Ireland Samsung Supporters Kit, which includes a limited edition Samsung Galaxy Mini handset preloaded with two of the hottest football Apps for Republic of Ireland supporters; the 3Football App and the new Three Football Flick Kick game.

In addition to the limited edition handset the Supporters Kit includes; a FAI supporter’s handset cover, a watch, ‘Support Works’ car sticker and a Republic of Ireland supporter’s pin. The Three Ireland Supporters Kit priced at €89 is available in all 3 Stores and stockists and online at Three.ie while stocks last.