Given expects to recover from wrist injury for Andorra trip

“NICE media facilities,” quips Shay Given as we seek shelter from a stiff sea breeze in the tiny groundsman’s hut at Gannon Park in Malahide.

Out on the training pitch, his colleagues are busily going through a session under the watchful eye of the Irish management team but the ‘keeper, who is resting a sore wrist, insists that there’s no fear he’ll miss Friday’s Euro 2012 qualifier in Andorra.

“It happened against Newcastle a few weeks ago when a lad came sliding into me during the first half and pushed my wrist back,” said the Aston Villa man. “It was just niggling and I have been trying to get rid of it. I took a few days to get some treatment on it and I’ll train in Barcelona. But it’s nothing that’s going to stop me from playing.”