Given 'fine for Euros'

Shay Given is to travel to London on Thursday regarding his knee problem but will stay in the Republic of Ireland squad for Euro 2012.

FAI plays down fitness concerns over goalkeeper

Shay Given is to travel to London on Thursday regarding his knee problem but will stay in the Republic of Ireland squad for Euro 2012. The Aston Villa goalkeeper's fitness has been a concern for Giovanni Trapattoni this week and the Ireland manager previously admitted he had yet to decide whether to 'run the risk' of keeping him in the squad. Given picked up the injury in training on Monday and is now preparing to consult a doctor he has seen in the past. However, the Football Association of Ireland has made it clear that Given will return to Ireland's Portmarnock base later the same day, insisting that his participation in Poland and Ukraine is not in doubt.

Precautionary

An FAI spokesman said: "Shay Given will travel to London tomorrow to visit a knee specialist that he has seen in the past. "He will return to Portmarnock in the evening. "This is purely precautionary and Shay remains fine for the Euros." Sunderland's Keiren Westwood and David Forde of Millwall are the other keepers in the Ireland squad and Trapattoni will have to consider who to select between the posts for Saturday's friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina at the Aviva Stadium.