Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given hopes Richard Dunne will return to action before the end of the season.
The former Manchester City centre-back suffered a fractured collar bone in the 1-0 loss against his old side in the last month.
There has been talk in the media claiming that the injury could keep the 32-year-old out of this summer's European Championships in Poland and Ukraine, but Given has played down those rumours and insisted that Dunne is making good progress.
"He still has a sling, but everything is going to plan," Given told the Express and Star.
"He seemed in pretty good form when I spoke to him a few weeks ago or so.
"Hopefully we can get him back fit before the end of the season, because ideally you want him playing a few games before the summer, with such a big summer coming up."
Given joined Aston Villa from Manchester City last summer.
Sam Hughes
