Shay Given
Shay Given has admitted he may not get the nod from Martin O’Neill to travel to Euro2016.
The Lifford man should get a call from the Ireland manager but he admitted that he is taking nothing for granted.
“We all don’t know who is travelling. Me as well, I don’t know if I’m going to be in the final 23.
“Someone is going to miss out. It’s going to be tough for someone.
“If it’s me, I’ll take it on the chin. If it’s someone else, they’ll have to do the same. I am not nervous, I am gone past that stage.
“I can only say how I feel and I am really excited about the week ahead and hopefully getting on the plane — though there are no guarantees I will be on the plane,” he told the Irish Sun.
The goalkeeper turned 40 last month and if he does add to his 133 caps, it will see him become Ireland’s longest-serving player ,breaking Johnny Giles’ record of 19 years and 202 days.
But the Donegal man admits that he will not pass the record of Ireland’s oldest international — held by Bill Lacey who was 40 years and 225 days when he played Italy in 1930.
While he has another year on his contract with Stoke, he acknowledges that this summer’s Euros are his end game with the Boys in Green.
For now he is just out to make sure he is part of the squad going to France and then he will target getting that No 1 shirt he owned for 16 of the last 20 years.
Given admitted: “Realistically this is probably my last chance playing at a major finals.
“I’ve just turned 40 so I’d imagine it will be my last chance.
“I’ve had a fair run at it, I suppose, but I still feel I have something left to give. Hopefully in France I’ll have something to give.”
Having joined Stoke as second-choice goalkeeper, he suffered an injury-interrupted campaign.
A knee injury sustained during Ireland’s famous win over Germany needed two operations to repair the damage, keeping him out for the guts of six months.
And having returned to fitness and got into the Stoke team because of Jack Butland’s season-ending ankle injury, he suffered a groin strain in his third game putting him out for another two weeks.
He proved his fitness in the final Premier League game of the season but knows that eight appearances this term — three for Ireland — is far from the best preparation for a tournament.
Given revealed: “Obviously at the back of my mind was the summer and the Euros. It was a massive goal to work towards.
“Thankfully I got back fit before the end of the season.
“You can only go on your last game and West Ham, the last game of the season, I felt fine.
“It’s not just me in the squad who hasn’t played enough games.
“There will be other squads and teams around Europe going to the Euros where some of the players haven’t played enough games. But I can’t change either.”
