Shay Given set to leave Aston Villa

Veteran keeper Shay Given is set to leave Aston Villa in search of more first team football opportunities. The 37-year old keeper has been replaced in the starting XI by American Brad Guzan, who has been in superb form this season.

“I had a meeting with manager Paul Lambert,” Given said. “We both agreed that I should be playing first-team football. And that’s not happening at Villa right now.”

Given played the first two matches of the season, both of which Villa lost, and Lambert decided to give Guzan an opportunity and as the season progressed, the 28-year old established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper, restricting Given’s appearances to just cup games.

Given is set to be followed through the exit doors by his Republic of Ireland team-mates Richard Dunne and Stephen Ireland. Dunne didn’t play a game all season due to persistent groin injury. Ireland played 9 games in the just-concluded season and failed to impress Paul Lambert.