Shay Given is not prepared to throw in the towel.
A knee injury has seen him replaced in the international set-up by a very capable-looking Darren Randolph. And stripping the starting gloves away from Stoke’s Jack Butland is easier said than done.
At 39, Given doesn’t have too many years left in him, one would imagine, but the veteran stopper is intent on making a case to Martin O’Neill for a starting place at this summer’s European championships.
Without game time, it’s understandably difficult for O’Neill to justify starting Given and the Donegal goalkeeper has been around the block long enough to be aware of what he has to do to start between the sticks in June.
“The injury has been longer than I would have liked, but in the last few days I’ve got the gloves back on,” Given told the Stoke Sentinel.
“I’ve still got the European Championships to get right for and hopefully play some games for Stoke, but that’s not going to be easy because Jack has probably been our player of the season so far.
“I’ve got to get match fit first, which will probably take a few weeks, then take it from there. The summer is massive for me and it’s important I get match fit and play a few games to show them I’m ready to get on the plane to France.
“It might be here or it might be on loan for a couple of months. The important thing is to make sure the knee is right and then maybe have a chat with the gaffer.
“So at the moment it is a bit premature to be talking about loan spells.”
