IRELAND ARE SET to be without one of their most experienced players in the Euro 2016 play-off matches against Bosnia-Herzegovina, after Stoke boss Mark Hughes effectively ruled Shay Given out of the games today.
With 133 caps, Given is second only to Robbie Keane in terms of experience, but the 39-year-old goalkeeper picked up an injury in his country’s 1-0 victory over Germany in the recent Euro 2016 qualifier at the Aviva Stadium.
Given has failed to recover from the knock he picked up playing for Ireland, and is now set for surgery, with Hughes today confirming the goalkeeper would probably be unavailable for the Bosnia matches.
In more positive news, however, another Irish goalkeeper, Rob Elliot, started his third Premier League match in succession today, and earned a clean sheet as Newcastle drew 0-0 with Stoke.
Meanwhile, Darren Randolph — who replaced Given against Germany and is favourite to start in Bosnia — had to be content with a place on the bench, as West Ham lost 2-0 at Watford.