SHAY GIVEN says he is delighted to be back in training after fearing an injury scare would hit his chances of playing in the Euro 2012 Championship.
The 36-year-old goalkeeper Lifford man says he flew to London last week to see a knee specialist who confirmed that he would be able to take part in the tournament if he rested until the middle of this week.
Shay also welcomed the news that former Norwich City manager Paul Lambert is about to take over at his club Aston Villa.
The goalie trained today in Tuscany – showing no signs of his injury.
He told Sport on One on RTE Radio One tonight: “You are always concerned, of course, because it’s an injury the second day into the training camp and it’s frustrating as much as anything.
“But today, I was really happy with how I trained and how the knee felt, and that’s the most important thing. That’s the biggest test.
“It’s not about talking about it, it’s about going out and putting it under the pressure you need to, and today it was fine.
“It was just nice to be training, to be honest. It’s been a long ten days, or whatever it is.
“It’s tough in the hotel sometimes when your only break is to get out for a couple of hours to train and then that’s taken away from you a little bit. I am delighted to be back training and back among the lads and back giving out to them, all that kind of stuff. It’s nice.”
Shay also welcomed a return to fitness by Sunderland’s John O’Shea.
“He looks good,” said Given. “We have been in the gym quite a bit in the last few days just working on our core and stability; all the different work you have to do coming back from an injury.
“We have both been working together, so it is nice that we are both back on the same day to be honest. John is looking pretty sharp as well, so that’s good news.”
With the injury behind him, Given is keen to get some game time before Ireland begin their tournament against Croatia on Sunday 10 June.
However, he is unsure if he will win his 122nd cap when Ireland take on Hungary in their final pre-tournament friendly in Budapest on Monday night.
“I don’t know, you will have to ask him,” he said, when asked if Trapattoni would select him for that game.
“I would like to think I can play, hopefully, in Hungary and get 90 minutes under my belt before the Croatia game.
“I am sure whatever team he plays against Hungary, personally, will maybe start against Croatia.
“But the manager might have a totally different idea to that, I don’t know.”
He went on: “The whole season at the back of your mind, you are thinking about the European Championships in the summer. Every training session, every game, it’s at the back of your mind.
“It’s getting closer and closer now and the excitement is building and building, and we can’t wait for next week.”
“I think there’s a real belief as well that we are a good team,” he said when questioned about the confidence in the squad.
“People outside the country might not think that, but as a group of players and the management and even the supporters, we are a tight-knit group.
“We have got to keep that going throughout the Championships. We would like to go a long way.”
Kevin Foley’s omission being dropped by Giovanni Trapattoni has made most of the headlines.
Given told RTE: “We didn’t actually see him (Foley). He chugged off to the airport and we didn’t actually see him.
“But Kevin is gutted, as we are gutted for him as well. But as the manager said, it’s not about one player, it’s about the team and the nation.
“He felt it was the right decision and we have got to respect his decision.
“We are gutted for him, but I am sure he is back at home and he is going to support the team in the summer.”
Meanwhile Shay welcomed news that Paul Lambert is on his way to his club Aston Villa.
“I have no idea … about what’s going on at Aston Villa – but if Paul was to come in, he would be a great appointment because he is a fantastic manager,” Given said.
“Since he took the hotseat at any club he has been at, he has just gone all the way up all the time, so hopefully if they can get that done, that would be great news for the club.
“The sooner the manager is in place for next season – because he will have targets and players he will want to get in himself – the sooner that’s done, the better.”
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