Shay Given Starts For Irish

Last updated : 15 November 2006 By Footy Mad - Editor

... after an agonising eight weeks on the sidelines.

Given returns as Ireland's No 1 for the European Championship qualifier against Group D minnows San Marino at Lansdowne Road. He has yet to figure for Newcastle since recovering from surgery to repair a perforated bowel, and I'd like to lock him in a room and keep him in cotton wool until he his certainly ready for action.

Perhaps Roeder sees it as the ideal chance to see if he really is fully recovered, but with Newcastle struggling in the relegation zone, I'd rather see him fighting our cause than that of the Irish.

Given: "As a footballer you don't want to miss any game, and I would have loved to have played Saturday. But the medical team and the gaffer felt that, after only resuming training last week, another few days would help me to get into the swing of things better.

"I'm now looking forward to the game because I've been a long time out. I've not had too many injuries in my career - touch wood I don't have too many more - and now I'm desperate to get out on the pitch again.

"It's been very frustrating in the gym watching the lads training. I've been desperate to get out there and get the gloves back on. There's still a little bit of soreness. The Newcastle doctor has said that will probably be the case for a while, but it's nothing that will stop me playing."