Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill admits that Shay Given's chances of making it to France this summer may have been boosted by the unfortunate injury sustained by Stoke City number one, Jack Butland, while playing for England at the weekend.
Butland fractured his ankle during the win over Germany and looks set to miss not only the rest of the Premier League season but also Euro2016, something he described after the game as a devastating blow.
After months of treatment and then rehabilitation work to get fit gain, however, the injury may open the door to some unexpected first team football for Given who is just getting back into full training having been sidelined with a knee since suffering a serious injury back in October, also during a win over the world champions.
O’Neill said that he wouldn’t be taking anything for granted but that a return to the Stoke City team could only be a good thing for the 39 year-old Donegal man.
"Of course; absolutely," he said at his press conference ahead of Tuesday's friendly international against Slovakia. "That's unfortunate for young goalkeeper at Stoke and while I'm not picking the team at Stoke, if it does give Shay an opportunity to play regularly between now and end of season then that would give him a really good chance."
Butland has been an ever present for Stoke in the league this season and took over from Given in the club's League Cup games after the Irishman's injury. Young Danish goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard played in two rounds of the FA Cup, however, and with Given not yet fully fit it seems almost certain that it he who will start for the club against Swansea this weekend.
Much may depend beyond that on how Haugaard does but having been signed from Danish champions Midtjylland on a three deal at the start of last summer, it may yet be that Mark Hughes sees the 23 year-old playing as more beneficial for the club over the longer term.
The situation is complicated, however, by the fact that Stoke, currently eighth in the table, retain an outside chance of making the Champions League and are very much in contention for the Europa League with big games against Tottenham and Manchester city to come over the next few weeks.
O’Neill, meanwhile, acknowledged his frustration at his inability to give Jon Walters or Robbie Keane a run out in either of these two games with both now having returned to their clubs due to injury but, he said, that the likes of James McClean still provides him with serious attacking options.
"James has played up front, I saw him play for Wigan there and he's done exceptionally well there."
He suggested that Wes Hoolahan may start against the Slovaks with Jonny Hayes and Eunan O'Kane amongst those likely to get another run out.
