Villa boss O’Neill ready to withdraw Dunne

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is prepared to leave out Richard Dunne for their clash with Burnley.

Heartbroken Dunne was pictured sitting on the pitch with France’s Thierry Henry at the end of the game which sent shockwaves around the world.

Henry’s handball assist for the goal which put France through made his pally chat with Dunne all the more remarkable.

O’Neill joked: “I think Richard had not seen as many replays of the incident as we’d seen at that point.

“I have not spoken to him about it but it goes without saying that he will be very disappointed. It is a devastating blow.”

And O’Neill insisted that, without question, he would understand if Dunne didn’t feel up for it.

He added: “I will not play him at all costs. If he felt he didn’t have the energy after his exertions and what happened, then I would listen.

“I don’t think he would say that he wouldn’t have the heart for the game but I am aware that it will take him some time to get over this.

“It is just a case of him getting it right in his own mind. It may be that he will want to play in a bid to try to get rid of what has happened.”