MARTIN O’NEILL has refused to rule out an international return for Shay Given after the Donegal man’s loan move to Middlesbrough.
Shay could be back in the Ireland squad.
O’Neill said that no discussions have taken place between himself and Given.
However, he is open to speaking to the 37-year-old if there is desire from the player’s side.
The veteran netminder retired from the international sphere after Euro 2012 before subsequently hinting that he was open to a comeback under Giovanni Trapattoni.
He had fallen out of favour with Aston Villa, but a short term switch to Middlesbrough has ended Given’s long spell in the wilderness and O’Neill is monitoring his situation.
“I would not discount that, not discount that at all,” he said.
“I haven’t spoken to Shay. I would do at some stage. If he turned around and said, “Listen, I’m back” – he’s now out on loan at the moment – I wouldn’t discount it.
“I’m having a conversation here about somebody I haven’t spoken to. I know Shay, I’ve met him a number of times but that’s before I’ve taken the job. That is something that I certainly wouldn’t rule out if I had a conversation and he was thinking about coming back. I might be a million miles out of my depth here because he might have no intention of coming back.”
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