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SHAY GIVEN is keen to talk to Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni about a return to the international fold.
The Aston Villa goalkeeper, 36, is ready to hold discussions with Trap less than five months after his retirement.
A source close to the player told SunSport: “It is something on Shay’s mind and he is open to the idea of an Ireland comeback. He has always wondered if it was right to go after the Euros and he would be interested in talking to Giovanni Trapattoni.
“If the manager wants him back, then it is something that could happen.”
Currently out of favour at club level, Given is willing to reconsider his decision to quit after the Euro 2012 finals.
SunSport can also reveal that the 125-times capped Given could return for the February friendly against Poland at the Aviva.
That would push him back into the frame for the vital World Cup qualifier away to Sweden in March.
Given’s replacement Keiren Westwood has already been warned by Trapattoni about his lack of first-team football at Sunderland.
Donegal-born Given is in the same boat at Villa but could go on loan when the transfer window opens next week.
If he stays with the Premier League club, he will have a Capital One Cup semi-final to look forward to having played in all games in the competition this season.
The former Ireland captain won his last cap in the Euro 2012 defeat to Italy, the third of three straight losses at the finals.
His form in Poland was hampered by a knee injury picked up in the training camp in Italy weeks before the tournament.
Kevin Kilbane also supportive of a return:
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Aston Villa conceded 12 goals in two games over Christmas.
It’s time for Paul Lambert to play Shay Given.
Shay Given should be Villa’s No 1, and he should come back to play for the Republic of Ireland and fight Keiren Westwood for the right to play for his country again.
It has been a difficult 2012 for my old Ireland team-mate who struggled with injuries, and by his own admission didn’t match his own high standards in the Euro 2012 finals, probably because he wasn’t fully fit.
He then gave up playing for Ireland, with the backing of new manager Paul Lambert, to concentrate on his Villa career, only to lose his place to Brad Guzan.
Shay is fully fit now, and still hungry to play.
Brad Guzan is not in his league as a keeper and it is time the Villa boss realised it and brought Shay’s brilliance, determination and experience back to his team.
He needs him.
This surprises me, to be honest. Shay sought to focus on his club career but obviously that's not going so well for him now. Of course he'd miss playing for us, especially when he can't even get regular football at club level, but this has a hint of desperation to it. People can blame a dip in form on the knee injury, but his ability/agility is also on the wane and he was poor for Villa recently despite being fully fit, judging by reports. If he does decide to return, would he be our best goalkeeping option? It's difficult to tell. Would it be progressive to revert back to relying on an old Shay or should we be focusing on ensuring our future options are getting game-time? I think he'd be good to have around the set-up as his experience and knowledge would be invaluable for the other keepers; I'm just not sure if he's the Shay he once was. Maybe he'll prove me wrong...
