CARLOS Cuellar has been backed to fill the void in Villa’s defence caused by Richard Dunne’s serious injury blow.

Dunne is out for up to two months after surgery on the collarbone he broke during Sunday’s defeat to Manchester City.

Shay Given admits Dunne’s long lay-off deprives the claret and blues of one of their most experienced and important defenders.

But Villa’s goalkeeper is convinced Cuellar is more than capable of deputising for the Irish defender at the heart of the back four.

“Carlos is a quality player,” said Given. “He got man-of -the-match from the sponsors for his performance at left-back and rightly so.

“He played a very, very good game and out of position, too, because he is not naturally a left-back.

‘‘It is important we have got versatile players like that who can play right across the back four.

“When a player’s out for that length of time, they can bring that kind of freshness and become like a new signing for the squad when they return.