Shay Given

Former Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given has said that he is extremely delighted with Manchester City winning the title this season. The former Newcastle United goalkeeper is currently at Aston Villa after having left Manchester city a few seasons ago in order to get regular first-team football.

A lot of tributes have been coming in on the social networking site Twitter following the dramatic 3-2 final day of the season win over QPR, which sealed the title for Manchester city. For most of the match, it looked like City were going to drop two points that would have given Manchester United the opportunity to lift the 20th Premier league title.

However, two goals in the last 5 min from Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero meant that Manchester City were able to snatch a dramatic win in the match. Shay Given spent a few seasons at the Etihad stadium before leaving for Aston Villa. He left for Aston Villa after seeing goalkeeper Joe Hart claim a regular first-team spot. Despite this, he said a few weeks ago that he wants Manchester City to win the title because he still has a lot of friends at the club. His wish has come true after City became only the fifth team to win the league title.

“Congrats to everyone at Manchester City. Really happy for all connected to the club. The blue moon is rising. Enjoy your night!” said Shay Given on Twitter. “Wow!! Speechless!! What an end to the Premier League!! Kun Aguero just handed the Premier League to Manchester City! Congrats to Manchester City!” said former Manchester United defender and current Barcelona defender Gerard Pique after missing the match. Many think that this season has been the most exciting in the Premier league season so far in the 20 seasons that have happened.

Aston Villa’s goalkeeper Shay Given has been ruled out for up to a month after injuring his hamstring in the match against Manchester United. Aston Villa lost the match 1-0, but Alex McLeish will be more worried about the number of players on the injury list. Aston Villa’s loan midfielder Jermaine Jenas has also been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury from the same match, while Shay Given has also suffered the hamstring injury that is set to keep him out at least for the Christmas fixture list.

Aston Villa have been very disappointing since the appointment of Alex McLeish. The fact that Alex McLeish plays a negative brand of football certainly does not help either. Now, the huge injury list means that the pressure will be on Alex McLeish to deliver because that fans are unlikely to give any sympathy for the manager. Following the injury, Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish said that USA international Brad Guzan is set to become the goalkeeper over the next few weeks. Shay Given is regarded as one of the best keepers in the Premier League and Alex McLeish is certainly disappointed to lose him for up to a month.

Aston Villa will be facing the likes of Chelsea during the Christmas fixture list. “It is disappointing to lose Shay in such circumstances but, unfortunately, these things happen in football. We have to meet these challenges and we will. We have total faith in Brad who, as I said after the game against Manchester United on Saturday, can be proud of the way he stepped in when Shay had to come off,” Villa boss Alex McCleish told Aston Villa’s official website. Jermaine Jenas has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an Achilles injury.