Given upbeat but cautious after Mainz

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Shay Given has warned his Ireland team-mates not to get too carried away by their opening World Cup qualifier victory over Georgia.

Ireland got their campaign off to the perfect start when goals from Kevin Doyle and Glenn Whelan handed them three points in the German city of Mainz on Saturday evening.

However, as they flew to Podgorica today for Wednesday night's clash with Montenegro, Given, whose senior international career stretches back more than 12 years, knows there will be plenty of twists and turns to come before Group Eight finally takes shape.

He said: ‘It's a very tough group. People who say it is an easy group, I think, are way off the mark.

‘Italy are the world champions, Bulgaria have got some very good players as well and Georgia, Montenegro and Cyprus - there are no easy games.

‘Every game, you have got to be focussed on the job in hand.’

Given's caution looks to be well-founded after an eventful start to the group which saw 10-man Bulgaria snatch a point at the death in Montenegro and Italy strike just as late to win in Cyprus at the weekend.

Indeed, while the Republic left home ahead of their double-header confident of returning with two positive results, they did so equally well aware that they would have to scrap tooth and nail to get them.

Given said: ‘We have only played one so far, but it is a great start and we will take a lot of positives from Saturday night's game.

‘But Montenegro on Wednesday will be an even tougher game, maybe. With the heat, it is going to be a lot warmer over there as well, so that will add to it.’

Soaring temperatures in Montenegro will not make Ireland's task any easier, but the confidence gained from Saturday's victory, coupled with the excitement of what is at stake, will provide Given and his team-mates with all the motivation they need.

The Newcastle keeper said: ‘You enjoy playing for your country, but there's always an extra edge when it's a World Cup game.

‘It was a great start for us. Georgia are a tough team and they have got some good players in the team as well, so it was imperative we got off to a great start.’

Given missed the opening games of manager Giovanni Trapattoni's reign as he recovered from groin surgery which finally brought an end to a lengthy injury saga.

He suffered a perforated bowel in a collision with West Ham striker Marlon Harewood in September 2006, and after a series of aborted comebacks, headed back into the operating theatre.

However, he is now back to full fitness and has played every minute of his club's four games to date this season, as well as the last two internationals.

He said: ‘I am just delighted to be back in the frame, both for club and country. I am just glad to be back playing football.

‘I have been a long time in the gym, so it is like a new lease of life for me to be back out on the pitch.’

Given was one of three players, along with Doyle and Stephen Hunt, to sit out training on Sunday morning.

Doyle and Hunt both emerged from the previous night's game with calf problems, while Given suffered a minor knock.

However, all three trained at the Halberg Stadium in Wehen this morning before heading for Frankfurt's Hahn Airport and their flight to Montenegro.