Shay Given admits he is looking forward to getting vital minutes under his belt for Republic of Ireland.
Keeper welcomes Trapattoni faith following frustrating time at City
Shay Given admits he is looking forward to getting vital minutes under his belt for Republic of Ireland.
The experienced goalkeeper has endured a frustrating season domestically, with Joe Hart keeping him out of the Manchester City side.
He has seen his game time severely restricted as a result, with only a handful of outings awarded him this term.
Given is, however, still very much first-choice for his country, with Giovanni Trapattoni unfazed by the 34-year-old's lack of action.
He will get the opportunity to add to his record-breaking 104-cap haul on Tuesday against Wales, and admits he cannot wait to return to the thick of the action.
Given said: "It is nice to play. If I wasn't picked I don't have a case to say I should be playing because I'm not playing for my club.
"It's thanks to Mr Trapattoni that I'm starting.
"I'm just delighted and I want to play football. I have trained more than I have ever trained. When you're playing, the next day you have a warm-down, so I've just stuck to training.
"I'm working harder than normal and hopefully that will stand me in good stead."
Respect
Given has been strongly linked with a move away from Eastlands in each of the last two transfer windows, with there no shortage of willing takers.
He admits that he expected to have been offloaded by now, with it clear from the start of the season that he was set to fill back-up duties at City, but accepts that he needs to keep working hard and wait for an opportunity to come his way.
"I thought there was a possibility (of moving) towards the end of the transfer window but the club wanted me to stay," he said.
"When you are a player you probably only think about yourself but you have got to respect what the club want as well.
"We are in three competitions this year with a realistic chance of winning all three.
"It is frustrating for me but who knows in football?
"Things can change very quickly. We have a lot of games coming up and anything could happen."
