Shay Given has had a strange time of it over the past couple of years.
Retirement from international football after Euro 2012 coincided with an extremely long spell as a benchwarmer at Aston Villa as Brad Guzan nailed down the No1 spot.
Last season was particularly eventful for the Donegal man as he went on loan to Middlesbrough, came out of international retirement, won back his Ireland place from David Forde and eventually was recalled to the Aston Villa first team by Tim Sherwood.
But it looked certain that Given was going to drop down to the Championship to join Middlesbrough on a permanent deal.
But instead his former Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has made a late swoop for Given as The Telegraph’s well-sourced reporter John percy claiming that Stoke have entered the running for the 39-year-old.
Stoke have made a late move for #avfc goalkeeper Shay Given. Could be completed in the next 24 hours. Was expected at Boro today #scfc
— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) July 8, 2015
Of course if Given does move to Stoke it raises question marks over Asmir Begovic’s future with the giant Bosnian a transfer target for Chelsea and Manchester United.
At Given’s age if a Premier League club is offering him regular first team football it could be very hard to turn down.
