Aston Villa defender Richard Dunne is the latest Irish player to pull out of Tuesday's international friendly against Brazil due to a muscle injury.

Dunne picked up the injury in the Carling Cup Final defeat to Manchester United on Sunday at Wembley.

The big defender is still without a winner’s medal in his club career and will be kicking himself for getting caught in possession by Dimitar Berbatov in the 12th minute, a mistake that would lead to Michael Owen’s equalizer for the Reds.

Giovanni Trapattoni may now have to partner Sean St Ledger with Paul McShane after the loss of his defensive stalwart.