Aston Villa: We must get over Laursen - Stiliyan Petrov:

Aug 30 2009 by Lisa Smith, Sunday Mercury

Aston Villa skipper Stiliyan Petrov believes his side have to learn to live without their “Captain Lionheart” Martin Laursen but believes that might be possible if manager Martin O’Neill can secure the services of Richard Dunne.

Petrov believes the acquisition of the Republic of Ireland and Manchester City captain will only boost a Villa side who have sorely missed the presence of their Danish international centre-half, forced to retire through a knee injury at the end of last season.

Villa have agreed a fee with Mark Hughes for Dunne, thought to be in the region of £6 million and subject to contractual issues and personal terms.

Petrov said: “If it happens, he has been a long serving international player with Ireland and has been a big fixture in the Premier League for many years.