It hasn't come about the way he might have wanted, but Shay Given's dire need for first-team football might soon be resolved.
Given knows all to well the ups and downs of life as a goalkeeper, and having not played since suffering an injury against Germany in September, the Lifford man will surely have sympathy with Jack Butland today.
The England stopper is awaiting the results of scans on an ankle injury suffered during last night's 3-2 victory over Germany, and any prolonged absence could offer Stoke back-up Given the chance to regain his sharpness ahead of this summer's Euro 2016 finals in France.
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Given is now back in full training and the 39-year-old will be desperate to prove his fitness to Martin O'Neill having fallen behind Darren Randolph and Rob Elliot in the current Ireland pecking order.
