GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI WILL be relieved to hear that Shay Given’s latest injury scare is merely that — a scare.
The Birmingham Mail reports that the Republic of Ireland stopper will return to full training tomorrow after he managed to shake off a minor groin problem.
Aston Villa’s new recruit stopped taking goal kicks towards the end of last Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Fulham, complaining of muscle tightness in his upper leg.
The injury was fully assessed by the club’s medics of Monday and, as there was no serious damage, Given got the green light to resume training in the morning.
“He’s on the mend,” Villa boss Alex McLeish told the paper. “He should be OK for the weekend.”
The news will come as a boost to Trapattoni ahead of Ireland’s crunch Euro 2012 match against Slovakia on 2 September.
Although both Kieren Westwood and David Forde were named in the squad named for the upcoming qualifiers, Westwood hasn’t had much match practice since his moving to Sunderland as he struggles to oust Simon Mignolet.
That would most leave Milwall’s Forde, who has only two senior caps to his name, as the most likely replacement should Given have any further problems.
