Manchester City’s Shay Given may benefit from Joe Hart injury
Shay Given may be given a chance to regain his place in the Manchester City team after Joe Hart was injured during a training session, while on international duty with England.
The goalkeeper was set to play in England’s international friendly with France at Wembley on Wednesday 17 November, but the player hurt his back and had to be helped off the training ground.
Hart is believed to have suffered a severe back spasm and the player will now be assessed by the medical staff at Manchester City.
The injury to Hart means that Shay Given is expected to feature against Fulham in the Premier League match on Sunday 21 November.
Given has already made it clear that he intends to leave Manchester City in January, as he has only made two appearances for the first team this season. Speaking to reporters Given said, “It’s not ideal; you want to play every week. It’s frustrating. I think
I’ve already said how I’m coping—not very well. But I can’t change the situation at the minute. I’ve just got to keep my head down and see what happens over the next couple of months.”
The Irish goalkeeper captained Ireland in their 2-1 defeat of Norway on Wednesday 17 November and has now won a record 109 caps for the Irish team.
The player admitted that his fitness and match practice was a concern. Given said, “You try and work hard in training, but obviously it’s difficult to try and re-enact a match situation. I wish I was playing more because I would feel sharper, but this is
the situation I’m in and I can’t really change that.”
However, Hart’s injury may now give the Irish goalkeeper a chance to change Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini’s mind.
The severity of Hart’s injury is yet to be confirmed, but it is believed that Given may make a number of appearances in goal as Hart recovers from his back injury.
Hart will be concerned that a goalkeeper of Givens quality could hold on to the goalkeeping jersey for a long time if handed the opportunity.
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