John Giles says he has his 'fingers crossed at all times’ after the death of one of his former teammates.
The Leeds United legend was reflecting on the death of Manchester United great Tony Dunne, who passed away earlier this week at the age of 78, when he made the comments.
The former Republic of Ireland international also seen two Leeds icons pass away in April, with Elland Road heroes Trevor Cherry dying two weeks after Norman Hunter lost his battle with coronavirus.
Giles has said that most of his former team-mates are in the ‘danger age’, and worries for them and himself, following the loss of his ex-colleagues.
Speaking on Off The Ball, Giles said: “Eddie Gray is my contact at Leeds, but I hate hearing from him! He called me about Paul Madeley and Terry Cooper.
"It is fingers crossed all the time, I keep my fingers crossed for myself. Most of the lads I played with are a similar age to myself. They are in the danger age, but it's fingers crossed all the time."
Speaking about the fellow Stella Maris youth, Giles had nothing but praise for the late Dunne's ability, which seen him play 535 times for Man Utd, and 33 for Ireland.
He said: "There was nobody quicker than Tony, but he could use the ball well when he got it.
"He didn't give the ball away, and he was lucky enough to have Bobby Charlton and Georgie Best in the same team so he could give it to them and let them get on with it.
"He could still come on the overlap and do a bit of damage."
FAI interim deputy CEO and former Ireland and Sunderland great, Niall Quinn, also paid tribute to Dunne, as he described him as a ‘wonderful character’.
