Given gets no guarantee from O’Neill

MARTIN O’Neill and Shay Given have both insisted that the veteran goalkeeper received no guarantees about playing time for Ireland before he made the decision to come out of international retirement.

Given is expected to make his first appearance for his country since Euro 2012 in tomorrow night’s friendly against Oman at the Aviva Stadium but O’Neill says he will not make a final decision about his choice of Number One for Sunday’s Euro qualifier away to Georgia until closer to kick-off in that game.

Given, who has played just 26 competitive matches in the last two years, and whose future at Aston Villa remains uncertain, said yesterday that being recalled to the Irish squad was “a big boost” but was quick to dismiss as “rubbish” claims that he demanded he be O’Neill’s first-choice keeper.