Shay Given desperate for FA Cup glory with Aston Villa to erase past woes
Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given has experienced some of the most agonising moments of his career in the FA Cup, and as he prepared for his fourth final on Saturday, it seemed as if his curse had struck again.
Given has been a shining star of Villa's run to a Wembley clash with Arsenal but a groin injury was threatening to derail his hopes of a career-defining FA Cup triumph, as American keeper Brad Guzan waited in the wings to take his place.
Yet Villa boss Tim Sherwood has confirmed that his first-choice keeper has made a swift recovery to take a place in his side for a game against the same opposition Given faced during his Newcastle days in his first FA Cup final 17 years ago.
He may have lifted the FA Cup with Manchester City in 2011, but his position as a benchwarmer on that occasion means he does not consider himself to be a genuine Wembley winner. He was also part of the Newcastle sides that lost the 1998 and 1999 FA Cup finals at Wembley.
Now 39, Given has been presented with one last chance to claim glory that he considers to be his own, with the affable Irishman daring to believe the FA Cup moment he has long dreamed about is finally upon him.
No comments:
Post a Comment