Shay Given delighted about getting playing time
Manchester City’s out-of-favour goalkeeper http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Republic-of-Ireland-c2987 national side.
The side faces Wales in the Carling Nations Cup tournament at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday.
The 34-year-old goalkeeper is Ireland’s most capped player in history, having already made 109 appearances for ‘The Boys in Green.’ His club career, however, has suffered owing to the emergence of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Joe-Hart-c18699 in Manchester City and he has made just one League
appearance for the Eastlanders.
Given is really looking forward to standing in between the sticks for the national side.
“It is nice to play. If I wasn't picked I don't have a case to say I should be playing because I'm not playing for my club. It's thanks to Mr Trapattoni that I'm starting,” stated the shot-stopper.
Given added that he is just happy to play football and has been training his socks off in recent weeks. He claimed that he has been training more than he has ever done in his entire career.
“I'm working harder than normal and hopefully that will stand me in good stead,” stated the Ireland International.
Given will also be the captain for the fixture against Wales and remained upbeat over his club future, despite showing some frustration. He stated that he was close to switching to some other club towards the end of the January 2011 transfer window, but
the club needed his services.
The former Newcastle player added that players usually think only about themselves when it comes to such a decision, but he respected the club’s choice and decided to stay put for at least the remainder of the 2010-11 season. Given said that Manchester City
had every chance of winning all three competitions they are competing in.
The shot-stopper believed that nothing is for certain in football and with the amount of games left in the season, he might be playing soon for his club.
Ironically, former teammate of Given, Gary Speed would be the manager for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Wales-c3041 and Speed had nothing but respect for his former colleague. The manager stated that the situation with Given is just unfortunate. The former Newcastle player considered the shot-stopper
to be one of the best goalkeepers in the United Kingdom and compared him to the likes of Neville Southall in the all time best list.
The Wales manager believed that without Given, City have managed 15-20 points less than what they had last season and was surprised that he was not a first choice goalkeeper.
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