ROUND-UP:SHAY GIVEN looks set to be available for the start of the European Championship campaign, with the Manchester City goalkeeper reportedly coming through what was described by his club as successful surgery on his dislocated shoulder.
In a statement issued through its website yesterday, City stated: “Early indications are that the surgery on the shoulder and ligaments went well, and that the 34-year-old should be able to begin rehabilitation work soon.”
The belief at Eastlands is Given is now firmly in contention to feature in City’s early games of the new season and while the club may well be reluctant to release him for Ireland’s friendly game against Argentina in August, he would, if things go to plan, now be expected to be available for the games against Armenia and Andorra the following month.
As things stand, Keiren Westwood is in pole position to take Given’s place in next month’s games against Algeria and Paraguay as well as the prestigious Aviva stadium game against the former world champions while Joe Murphy and Brian Murphy are also expected to be in Giovanni Trapattoni’s squads for the games.
Sheffield United’s Paddy Kenny insists, however, he has not given up on earning a return to the international stage, with the 31-year-old, who has just come back from a nine-month drug ban for the use of ephedrine, revealing he is keen to get a recall.
Kenny dropped out of the international set-up after disappointing performances against the Netherlands and, particularly, Cyprus in October 2006 when Given was injured and Steve Staunton was in charge of the team.
He left the squad immediately after the game in Nicosia with the then manager explaining the player wanted time to sort out his private life.
At club level, however, Kenny remains highly rated and his performance in his comeback game against Swansea City last weekend earned him a man of the match award. He would also bring experience of playing in the English top flight to the squad again.
“I would definitely like to play for Ireland again,” he said. “I never said that I didn’t want to represent my country, I only wanted time out for personal reasons. Hopefully, it’s a clean slate and, if I do get another opportunity, I will be more than delighted.
“I feel I have a point to prove. I let in nine goals in my last two games – so I don’t want to finish on that note.”
Kenny said he was delighted to be back playing again after a spell away during which he had to train by himself in a local park because he was prohibited from working with his club.
“You don’t think you are doing anything wrong taking cough medicine but it has cost me virtually a full season of my career,” he said. “When I first got banned, I remember crying in the car on the way home. I didn’t know if my career was over.”
Former Ireland defender Steve Carr, meanwhile, has received a one-match ban from the English FA for making an obscene gesture to Aston Villa fans at the end of last weekend’s Birmingham derby.
The full back admitted the charge but could face further problems after telling local media that City were “totally robbed” by a “horrific (penalty) decision”.
Carr also faces the possibility of being charged with criminal behaviour as a result of his actions on the day with local police saying that they are investigating the matter.
