Given gets good feeling about Irish crunch month

SHAY GIVEN is confident this is ‘our time to qualify’ for the European championships next year.

The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper is relishing next month’s make or break ties which will determine the national side’s plan for summer 2012.

He said: “We’ve got a big month next month with two huge games. We have Slovakia at home first and are then away to Russia. Hopefully we can start with a victory at home and then head for a real play-off with Russia.

“We’re confident, we had a great result in Macedonia and a great result in Belgium away to Italy as well. I think we’re unbeaten in the last 10 or 11 games away from home.

“That will stand us in good stead and (Giovanni) Trapattoni has given us a real belief that when we go away from home we can get results.

“There’s a real belief in that squad that touch wood this is our time to qualify.”

The Aston Villa man is battling to overcome a groin injury so he can face his former club Blackburn Rovers on Saturday in his home debut.

“I normally get a boo when I go there (Villa Park) so hopefully the fans will be okay there. But as I say it’ll be nice to go there to Villa Park and hopefully have a big crowd and if we can get three points that’s the most important thing.”

Villa were solid against Fulham but Given refused to speculate about the advances the club can make under new manager Alex McLeish.

“I think its too early, I mean we’ve just played one game. If you ask us in three months’ time you’ll get a better feeling for where we’re at as a group, but we’ve started with a tough away point and we’re at home next week, but its too early to say where we’re going to finish.”