Given likely to miss rest of season

SOCCER:SHAY GIVEN looks unlikely to play any part in Ireland's first games under new manager Giovanni Trapattoni after undergoing surgery on a groin problem in Munich yesterday.

The goalkeeper had been repeatedly troubled by the injury which has restricted him to just 24 appearances for Newcastle this season. The latest difficulties arose during the 5-1 home defeat by Manchester United when the Donegalman had to be replaced at half-time.

It seemed then he would have to write off the rest of the Premier League campaign in the hope that he could finally sort out a run of injuries that stretches back to his clash with West Ham striker Marlon Harewood back in September 2006 when he required surgery to repair a perforated bowel. Since then he has had a number of spells on the sidelines and has missed a number of Ireland internationals, including the 5-2 away defeat by Cyprus.

This time he was initially told no operation would be required, with a Belgian specialist reportedly telling him he could resume light training last week. The return never got off the ground, though, and yesterday Dr Ulrike Muschaweck, a German hernia specialist who has previously treated the likes of Michael Owen and Alan Shearer, operated on him.

In a statement his club said it was expected the goalkeeper will make a full recovery after the treatment and he was expected to be out of action for around six weeks. How hard United try to get him back into the first team squad before the end of the campaign is likely to depend on how they fare during the next month or so in their attempt to climb away from the relegation zone.

If they can improve on their dismal run of recent results, however, and edge their way to safety then it seems likely Given would be allowed the summer to complete his recovery, while if the club wants him back before then there is no guarantee he will be fit enough to play by the start of May.

Either way, in the event he fails to make any competitive appearances for Newcastle then the club is likely to argue strongly against his involvement in the Ireland games against Serbia or Colombia, although it is possible he would be allowed to join up with the squad for the training camp in the Algarve.

Given's surgery came a day after Aston Villa confirmed that 20-year-old left back Stephen O'Halloran had travelled to the United States to receive treatment for the cruciate ligament injury he sustained while warming up for his debut for Leeds United, where he is on loan, at the start of this month.

The defender, who played in both of Ireland's games in the United States last summer, will see Dr Ralph Steadman, who has previously treated Given's fellow Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper and, once again, Owen for similar problems.

The young player is facing into a long lay off, however, and is certain to miss a significant part of next season.