Joe Hart was outstanding during a season-long loan at Birmingham City last season, to such an extent that Mancini has refused to allow the 23-year-old to join another club on a similar basis.
That has opened the debate as to whether Hart or Given will receive the nod from Mancini for Saturday’s Barclays Premier League curtain-raiser against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.
At the age of 34, Given knows his career for both club and country is on the line and that he has to be playing first-team football with one to further his longevity with the other.
top keeper
“We will have to wait until lunchtime on Saturday when the manager picks the team to see who starts in goal,” said Given.
“Obviously I hope to start, but it’s inevitable there is going to be speculation because I know Joe is also a top keeper.
“The manager will decide, and whoever he starts with you would feel that is who he would mostly want to play in the big games.
“Ideally I’d like to stay at the club because it’s a big club to be at, a very ambitious club with fantastic owners.
“I want to be part of it, which is why I joined in the first place. But I know I’m at a stage where I need to be playing. I’m 34, and I’ve not got millions of years left.”
“I’m at a stage where I need to be playing. I’m 34, and I’ve not got millions of years left” – Shay Given
Credits: PremierLeague.com
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