Given to hold Trap talks about return

Shay Given is to hold talks with Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni about coming out of international retirement.

Given, who starred in Aston Villa’s 2-1 FA Cup win against Ipswich Town, called time on his international career after winning 125 caps. But, at the age of 36, Given is contemplating playing a part in Ireland’s World Cup qualifying campaign.

Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy, who had Given in his team when he was in charge of Ireland, and Villa manager Paul Lambert both have no doubt that the former Manchester City keeper can still cut it at international level.

But whether Given does test himself there again will depend on how the talks go with Trapattoni.

Given, whose only action for Villa since August has been in cup matches after he lost his place at number one to Brad Guzan, said: “At the moment I haven’t changed my mind yet about returning to the international scene.

“I haven’t decided and I haven’t spoken to the manager of Ireland yet. I want to speak to him first before I make any kind of announcements. But it is something I am looking at at the minute to be honest.”

He helped Villa avoid a cup shock against Ipswich at the weekend and McCarthy said: “He’s always been a pain in the side when he’s been playing against me!

“He was one of the main reasons we got to the World Cup, he’s wonderful, he’s a great guy.

“He’s a top pro, and I love him to bits. When we qualified for the World Cup and we beat Iran he made two saves, one v one, at home that enabled us to go 2-0 to Iran and get through. He was magnificent for me, Shay Given, is just fabulous.’’

Meanwhile Ireland defender Sean St Ledger has suffered another setback in his rehabilitation from a troublesome hamstring injury and looks certain to miss the all-important World Cup qualifiers with Sweden and Austria in March.