SHAY GIVEN WAS forced off in this afternoon’s Premier League defeat for Stoke City against Manchester City with a groin injury.
The Lifford native, who turned 40 on Wednesday, failed to appear for the second half as Mark Hughes’ side went down 4-0 against the Champions League semi-finalists.
Fernando and Sergio Aguero – from a penalty – had scored at that stage and with Jakob Haugaard taking over in goal for Stoke at the interval.
City added further goals in the second half, with Kelechi Iheanacho adding a brace of goals.
Today’s appearance meant Given is only the 14th player to appear in the Premier League to play in their forties, while it was the first time since 1964 and Stanley Matthews that a Stoke player lined out at that age.
Given was making only his second Premier League start for Stoke having played in Monday night’s 4-0 loss against Tottenham Hotspur.
Regular first team football would certainly have forced Given’s hand with Martin O’Neill, the Republic of Ireland manager, ahead of Euro 2016. Ireland open their campaign against Sweden in Paris on June 13.
“Shay pulled his groin unfortunately after about 20 minutes he was struggling but wanted to carry on,” Hughes said afterwards
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