Given threatens to leave Man City

By Glenn Mason

Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given has said he will look to move from Manchester City if he loses his number one spot to Joe Hart at the weekend.

Given has been City's first choice since he joined from Newcastle United in February 2009, but Hart's return from an impressive loan spell at Birmingham City has left manager Roberto Mancini with two top goalkeepers to pick from.

Mancini has used both players in pre-season, but Given believes the one who starts against Tottenham Hotspur in the opening game of the season on Saturday is the manager's preferred choice.

Given said: 'Joe is a top keeper so it's inevitable that there will be speculation about who starts on Saturday.

'The manager will decide and whoever he starts with on Saturday, you'll imagine, that's who he will want to play in most of the big games this season.

'I think we are both at a stage where we both need to play football. If I don't start, I'll sit down with the club, maybe next week, and see where my future is.

'I'm 34 and haven't got millions of years left to play football. Hopefully, I'll play on Saturday, but whatever decision the manager makes I'll respect that.'

Given is keen to stay at City and is willing to consider a loan move and there has been speculation in the British press linking him with a move to Arsenal.

'Ideally, I'd like to stay at the club because it is a big club to be at, a very ambitious club, with fantastic owners,' said Given.

'I want to be part of that and that is why I joined in the first place. Possibly, if I didn't start, I'd consider a loan and then come back to see where that takes me.'

Hart has replaced David James and Robert Green as England goalkeeper, but Given was coy about whether Mancini will come under media pressure to start with the England man.

He said: 'There is so much stuff in the media in England regards Joe and the England goalkeeping situation. I don't know if that will influence the manager, but you'll probably need to ask him that. Joe will play on Wednesday for England, so it's interesting.'

Given is delighted just to be back playing after dislocating his shoulder against Arsenal in April.

He missed the final three games of the season as City lost out on a Champions League place to Tottenham, but is happy to have only missed three games with such a serious injury.

'I've been working hard all summer and I'm delighted to be fit for the new season. That was my aim when I got injured with a week to go last season,' said Given.

'All credit to the medical team at Man City, who have worked hard over the summer. I'm ready to go again and I'm looking forward to the new season.

'It was such a crucial time with three games to go and we were pushing for the Champions League. It was disappointing to miss out on the last three games, but these things happen.

'If there was a good time for it to happen, then I suppose it was then because there was only a week to go in the season and I had the whole summer to recover. I didn't miss that much football, which was important, as I don't like missing many games.'

Given will walk out behind captain Robbie Keane at the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday night as the Dubliner wins his 100th cap against Argentina.

The 34-year-old won his 100th cap against Montenegro in October and knows what a special night it will be for Keane.

Given said: 'His goalscoring record at international level stands up with some of the best players in the world. Sometimes we forget that and underestimate how important Robbie is to the team. It is a great achievement to get to 100 caps and it is a special occasion with the new stadium.

'I'm looking forward to the game and it's great for Robbie as well in that he can enjoy it a bit more because it is not a competitive game. It's against Argentina, which is always a special game.'

Because of his shoulder injury, Given was absent when the squad were given a tour of the tour of the Aviva Stadium in May. However, he has seen enough in newspapers and on television to suggest that it can match the atmosphere of the old Lansdowne Road.

'It is the start of a new era with the new stadium and everyone is excited to play at the Aviva Stadium,' said Given.

'I haven't even been to the place yet so I'm going there tomorrow. It looks pretty special when you see the pictures and the TV shots.

'No disrespect to Croke Park, but it just didn't seem like the same atmosphere. I don't know if it was because the Gaelic pitch was so big and the soccer pitch was so small and the stands were far back. I just think the atmosphere was lost a bit.

'I have some very special memories of Lansdowne Road and some great atmospheres. I am looking forward to creating that same buzz again.'