Roberto Mancini has told Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given that he can only leave if they find suitable cover for Joe Hart. Given who is 34 lost his place to Hart at the start of the season and is unhappy he is not playing regular football this season. He is worried he will lose his place in the Irish team and will not be match sharp for important games.
Manchester City are worried that a situation like at the end of last seaon will arise when they lost Shay Given and Stuart Taylor through injury and Hart was on loan at Birmingham. They had to ask the Preier League for a special emergency loan for Marton Fulopwho was at Sunderland..
Given wants to go out on loan but Manchini said in http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jan/14/shay-given-manchester-city
"We can't take the same risk as last season,""We have seen two or three [possible options] but Shay doesn't decide this situation. I have talked about this with Shay and he told me that, if we have a chance to take another goalkeeper, [he would like to go] … but finding a goalkeeper like Shay?"
Let's hope City can find an understudy to Hart that will allow Shay Given to move on and start to play first team football again.