Given told to stay at home

Koen Freriks

12 november 2006, 14:41

Newcastle United manager Glenn Roeder insists Shay Given will not be permitted to join up with the Republic of Ireland squad for next week's Euro 2008 qualifier against San Marino unless he plays for the Magpies against Manchester City on Saturday.

Given has been sidelined for the past two months since requiring surgery to repair an intestinal tear.

He returned to training with the Magpies two weeks ago and was named in Steve Staunton's Irish squad earlier this week.

But he has yet to make his comeback for his club, and he will be withdrawn from the squad if he is deemed unready to play against Manchester City at Eastlands on Saturday lunchtime.

Roeder said: "He has to play for Newcastle first. It would not be the correct procedure for his first game back to be in international football.

"I'm sure he would agree with that because he is the perfect professional. I don't know if he will have proved his fitness by that time and if he hasn't, he won't be joining the squad."