Shay Given: "I could leave Manchester City"
Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given has revealed that he could leave the club if he is not given the nod to start in the English Premier League (EPL) opening game against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
The Republic of Ireland international is facing strong competition for the number one jersey at City in the form of 23-year-old Joe Hart, who excelled during a stint on loan at Birmingham City last season. Sunderland had inquired about Hart’s loan availability as they face a shortage of goalkeepers, but City manager Roberto Mancini wants to have two top-class players competing for the position at the club.
Given recognised that whichever of the pair is given the go-ahead to start the match against Spurs will likely be Mancini’s number one goalkeeper for this season, and admitted that if he is not chosen he will have to assess his options. As he is 34, Given feels that he does not have many seasons left to play football and said he is, “at that stage where I need to be playing."
Linked with moves
Given has been linked with moves to EPL clubs Arsenal and Fulham due to the situation. While on duty with Ireland ahead of an international friendly against Argentina in Dublin, he told reporters that: "Whoever gets the nod on Saturday will probably be the recognised No1, at least until there's an injury. The manager will decide and whoever he picks, you'd think he will play in most of the big games this season. If it isn't me, I'll have to sit down with the club and see where my future is. It will be the same for Joe as well because we both feel we should be playing.”
Hart is widely tipped to be England’s next number one goalkeeper, but to achieve that he also needs to be playing regularly for his club. If a situation emerges that one of City’s two goalkeepers plays most of the club’s games, it looks likely that the other will be looking for a transfer in the near future.
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