SOCCER:Shay Given was yesterday ruled out of the Republic of Ireland's forthcoming European Championship qualifier against San Marino after a scan on the groin injury he picked up at the weekend confirmed he will require at least a month's rest.
The Newcastle United goalkeeper limped out of the club's 2-2 draw at the weekend and subsequently had the scan to assess the seriousness of the problem.
It appears the FAI was informed he would not be fit to travel to San Marino as soon as the initial results became available but club doctors are reported to be still studying the images with a view to establishing if the new injury might be linked to the more serious problem he sustained at Upton Park back in September which resulted in him having to undergo surgery to repair a ruptured bowel.
If there is a link then Given's period on the sidelines could be extended well beyond the rather winnable qualifier in San Marino and into March when Ireland are due to face both Wales and Slovakia in key Euro 2008 games at Croke Park.
Whether Given makes it back in time for those games or not, Staunton will now have to make a call on which goalkeeper to start with in San Marino where Brighton's Wayne Henderson would, in the light of Steve Staunton's reaction to events earlier in the season, appear more likely to start than Paddy Kenny of Sheffield United despite the latter featuring regularly for his club in the Premiership.
Staunton will be in Dublin next week in order to name his squad for the San Marino game which Kevin Doyle is virtually certain to miss with a hamstring problem.
