Patient Westwood ready to seize the day

THIS is it. The day every Irish soccer fan has dreaded. The nightmare scenario.

Shortly before 7.45pm, an Irish team will walk out into the Aviva Stadium glasshouse and Shay Given — with his record 110 caps and 15-year back catalogue of crucial saves — won’t be among them after suffering a shoulder injury in training late last month.

It will be like Corrie without Ken Barlow.