Time running out for Given to secure seat on the plane

MARTIN O’NEILL has strongly indicated that Shay Given will need to secure a loan move from Stoke City to rescue his Euro 2016 squad ambitions.

With Jack Butland the immovable No 1 for the Potters and Given gradually working his way back to fitness following a prolonged knee injury, inactivity means the Republic of Ireland’s most capped player is in real danger of missing out on one of the three goalkeeper berths in the final 23-man squad.

Darren Randolph has ably taken over as O’Neill’s firstchoice stopper since Given suffered the injury in the first half of the qualification victory over Germany last October and has made 10 appearances for West Ham United this season.

Rob Elliot’s progress at Newcastle United, where he’s stepped into the void left by Tim Krul’s injury to play 19 times, has pleased O’Neill while Keiren Westwood’s credentials as Sheffield Wednesday’s regular custodian are enhancing.

Given (left) won’t be fit for the double-header friendly against Switzerland and Slovakia in three weeks’ time.

Unless an emergency loan is brokered in the final month of the club season, it appears the 133-time capped legend may have played his last international game.

‘That is a lengthy time to be out for any player whether you’re a goalkeeper or an outfield player,’ O’Neill said about the possibility of selecting Given for the Euros after eight months without a club game.

‘I would like, from a general rule, that all the players I’m considering for Euro duty to be playing competitively, if at all possible.’

When asked if the fact Given’s three rivals are all getting game-time while he doesn’t, O’Neill replied: ‘Exactly. It has been a big plus that Elliott has gone and played for Newcastle on a regular basis.’

Meanwhile, O’Neill – who plans to attend Sweden’s final friendly against Wales on June 5 before they face his team at the Euros eight days later – is aiming to impart his trademark belief onto his players this summer ahead of tough tests against Belgium and Italy.

As manager of Leicester City and, in European competition with Celtic, the 64-year-old masterminded some notable shock results.

Having achieved another scalp in his latest job against the world champions in the qualifiers, he contends fear shouldn’t feature in his players’ psyche.

‘I know the German win is in the back of their mind, that it’s not fresh any more, but we should take something from the fact we can compete.

‘That is the type of side we are and we must be strong mentally (in France),’ he reasoned.