Given out for a month

Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given will spend a month on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury, the club have announced.

Villa keeper to miss festive period with hamstring tear

Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given will spend a month on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury, the club have announced. The keeper was substituted during Villa's 1-0 defeat to Manchester United in the Midlands on Saturday. Scans on Monday showed the 35-year-old Republic of Ireland international had suffered a small tear in his left hamstring. American Brad Guzan, who replaced Given seven minutes before the break at the weekend, will continue to deputise between the posts in this weekend's Premier League game at Bolton. Villa manager Alex McLeish told the club's official website: "It is disappointing to lose Shay in such circumstances but, unfortunately, these things happen in football.

Faith

"We have to meet these challenges and we will. We have total faith in Brad who, as I said after the game against Manchester United on Saturday, can be proud of the way he stepped in when Shay had to come off. "We will need within the football club for everybody to stick together and that strength of unity will help massively." Meanwhile, Villa are awaiting results of a scan undergone by Jermaine Jenas, who was also carried off on a stretcher against United. The on-loan Tottenham midfielder left the field with a serious-looking ankle injury after 64 minutes. He posted on Twitter on Monday afternoon: "Thanx 2 u all 4 ur support Im obviously gutted but it happens in football I'll b back stronger, again thanx I'll keep u updated on progress!"