Martin O’Neill admits he is lucky to have Richard Dunne at Aston Villa Football Club.

Manchester City spent heavily on Joleon Lescott and Kolo Toure in the summer, and when they did, they accepted an offer for 30-year-old Dunne.

The Republic of Ireland international has been superb this season whilst his two replacements at Eastlands have struggled, and O’Neill admits he is lucky to have him.

“We got him on transfer deadline day, although we were hoping that the agreement would have gone through maybe a day or two before,” said the Ulsterman.

“I think Richard had a fine career at Manchester City, and I don’t think you can be at a football club for nine years and not have affection for it. Maybe we were lucky to get him.”

Villa and City are both challenging for a place in the Premier League’s top four this season, and Roberto Mancini is perhaps wondering how his predecessor Mark Hughes let Dunne leave.

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