Shay Given's hopes of making the Irish squad for Euro 2016 have taken a blow as he was withdrawn at half-time of Stoke's game with Manchester City at the Etihad due to injury.
The 40-year-old shotstopper conceded two goals in 45 minutes before being replaced by Jakob Haugaard as reports emerged that Given had suffered a groin injury.
14 - Shay Given becomes the 14th different player to make a Premier League start aged 40 or over. Stannah.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 23, 2016
The Donegal man has accumulated 133 caps for Ireland and had his sights set on capitalising on an unresolved situation in Ireland's goals since Rob Elliot went down with a cruciate knee ligament injury against Slovakia in March.
Darren Randolph is lacking experience sitting behind Adrian at West Ham with David Forde at Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday’s Keiren Westwood also hoping to be considered but Given's experience could have offered him an edge in the competition.
Given conceded four against Tottenham on Monday night during his debut for Stoke and this most recent setback will surely put his international future in serious doubt.
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