Shay Given today became the 14th footballer over the age of 40 to start a Premier League game as he took the latest stride in his bid to be involved in Ireland's squad for Euro 2016.
14 - Shay Given becomes the 14th different player to make a Premier League start aged 40 or over. Stannah.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 23, 2016
Sadly, it has proven to be short-lived, as he was substituted at half-time through injury:
Shay Given has been replaced by Jakob Haugaard at half-time after suffering a reported groin injury. pic.twitter.com/clzwhsh7Nm
— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) April 23, 2016
Shay Given taken off at half time, is that his #EURO2016 final hope over? Probably so...
— RicÆrdo Gael (@R1card0_J) April 23, 2016
Thr injury misfortune that has struck Rob Elliot and Jack Butland had allowed Given return to first-team football at Stoke to stake his claim for an improbable spot in Ireland's squad for the European Championships, but now it appears that his good fortune has come to an abrupt end.
We have yet to hear of the severity of the injury, but with just four games left in Stoke's season, Given is running out of time to prove he is worthy of inclusion in Martin O'Neill's side. Should it rule Given out of the tournament, it will leave Ireland's goalkeeping options looking threadbare, following Rob Elliot's injury against Slovakia. The fact that Darren Randolph is unlikely to play for West Ham over the final weeks of the season may be a good thing.
