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Given in action for Middlesbrough. Nigel French/EMPICS Sport

O'Neill not ruling out international return for Given

The Ireland manager says the 37-year-old could potentially be back involved in the set-up soon.

IRELAND MANAGER HAS opened the door to a return to the international set-up for Shay Given.

Former number one Given earned 125 senior caps before retiring after Euro 2012. Now 37, the Donegal stopper recently joined Championship outfit Middlesbrough on loan from Aston Villa and went straight into the team — starting all of Boro’s last four games.

Last month, Given revealed that he would be open to sitting down with Ireland’s new management team and, speaking at his end-of-year press conference today, O’Neill says it is a possibility.

“I would not discount that,” O’Neill said. “I haven’t spoken to Shay but I will do at some stage. I’m having a conversation here with you about someone I haven’t talked about.

I know Shay and I’ve met him a few times but that is before I took the job on. That is something I certainly wouldn’t discount if I had a conversation and he was thinking about coming back.”

Keiren Westwood and David Forde have both featured during O’Neill’s first two games in charge with the Sunderland keeper since losing his place to Vito Mannone at Sunderland while Forde has conceded ten goals in the five games which followed for Millwall.

Goalkeeping coach Seamus McDonagh has also been to see Birmingham’s in-form Darren Randolph, who was left out of the last Ireland squad with Newcastle’s back-up Rob Elliot getting his first call-up.

“Seamus has been at Birmingham to watch him and was very impressed,” added O’Neill. “He thought he did very well.

“I went to Millwall and Wigan a fortnight ago and David didn’t do too badly in the match. Millwall actually beat Wigan in the game, James (McClean) was playing for Wigan, and he (Forde) didn’t do too badly.

“Sometimes goalkeepers can concede goals when it’s not really their fault. David made two or three blindingly-good saves during the course of that match. We’re monitoring that as much as possible.”

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21 Comments
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    Mute StephenBrody
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    Dec 19th 2013, 5:38 PM

    Abit unfair if that’s the case for Forde who I think has been great custodian since Given retired

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    Mute Conor
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    Dec 19th 2013, 7:04 PM

    Given should retire gracefully after his bad performances in the Euros. Was the 2nd best keeper Ireland ever had after Packie Bonner, but there is a right time to call it a day and that time was yesterday.

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    Mute Ciarán Ó Duifinn
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    Dec 19th 2013, 6:31 PM

    Shay has had a great time as no. 1 and an example to others. But he said he’d retire so he should stick to it. He could comeback and it all blowing up in his face. Forde is doing great now. Its his time now.

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    Mute Tj Leahy
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    Dec 19th 2013, 9:24 PM

    Given is the best ever Irish keeper for me!

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    Mute Leslie Alan Rock
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    Dec 19th 2013, 5:24 PM

    No. Not as a player. Euro 12 was a step too far for shay

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    Mute Foxys van
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    Dec 19th 2013, 5:38 PM

    Blasphemy Les

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    Mute Leslie Alan Rock
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    Dec 19th 2013, 5:44 PM

    Ah it was foxy. He wasn’t fully fit. There were a couple of goals he let in that a fully fit Shay would’ve got

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    Mute Foxys van
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    Dec 19th 2013, 5:53 PM

    Ireland were playing a match in croker and Given jogged down to take his position in goal and as he got nearer about 40,000 people stoop up and gave him a round of applause and show their respect the look on his face was priceless

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    Mute Leslie Alan Rock
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    Dec 19th 2013, 5:58 PM

    Loved him in his prime. Super shot stopper. Seemed to get ones that ye thought were already in

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    Mute Gerard Fitzgerald
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    Dec 19th 2013, 6:27 PM

    given is a legend,he was unfit in poland like keane dunne oshea,so we were rubbish,but when our players are fit,we can compete and i wouldnt rule out shay and TBH im amazed that many on here are,let the experts make that decision

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    Mute Peadar
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    Dec 19th 2013, 6:14 PM

    He was good in his prime, but his prime was some time ago. He was definitely the cause of Dean Kiely giving up on international football, at a time when Kiely was by far the better keeper but just couldn’t get a game for Ireland because of Shay’s reputation more than anything else. I can’t believe O’Neill would think Given should be recalled now- his day is definitely gone.

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    Mute David
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    Dec 19th 2013, 9:13 PM

    Things like this are a step back for Irish football! He was a great keeper and I have a lot of respect for him but he’s past it. O’Neill should be looking forward not backwards!

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    Mute John Hanley
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    Dec 20th 2013, 12:24 AM

    Paul mc Grath come bak as well

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    Mute Paul
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    Dec 19th 2013, 6:11 PM

    I don’t think he should come back, not because of euro 2012, cus that argument is just idiotic. But he made his decision to retire and stick with it just because he ain’t playing with his club and trying to put himself in the shop window .

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    Mute Sir Charles Chattan
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    Dec 19th 2013, 6:29 PM

    Jaysus, after that post you have a bit of a nerve accusing someone else of being idiotic.

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    Mute Paul
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    Dec 19th 2013, 6:30 PM

    Wanna back your point

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    Mute Paul
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    Dec 19th 2013, 6:30 PM

    Up

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    Mute Al O Reilly
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    Dec 19th 2013, 11:57 PM

    No harm having him back in the squad as number 2 or number 3 , you put your best possible squad on the day, shut up talking garbage, this he is past it Craic

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    Mute Mac an tSabhasaigh
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    Dec 19th 2013, 10:33 PM

    What’s the story with his hair? Dyed, weave? Trying to look like a young fella!!!

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    Mute Robert Coonan
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    Dec 19th 2013, 9:11 PM

    I wanna back..it. Up

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    Mute Pilib Ó Pléimeann
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    Dec 20th 2013, 12:56 PM

    He’s still good enough.

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