Soccer:Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given could well have played his last game for Manchester City after his manager Roberto Mancini said he will be sidelined for at least three months due to a shoulder injury.

Given, who picked up the injury in Greece last week, was due to see a specialist in London today and Mancini expects the Donegal keeper will require surgery in what is believed to be a second dislocation of his left shoulder.

"Shay has this problem in his shoulder and I think he needs three months to recover," Mancini said. "He has the same injury that he had last year and I think that he needs an operation."

The fear is Given’s injury is a repeat of the injury he sustained against Arsenal towards the end of last season. If so, he will almost certainly be ruled out of action until the end of the season.

The 34-year-old has made no secret of his desire to seek a move away from City after spending the entire season playing second fiddle to England international Joe Hart. This latest injury could bring down the curtain on his Eastlands career with a number of clubs expected to move for the former Newcastle and Celtic custodian in the summer.

Given also damaged his shoulder in April, which prompted City to sign Marton Fulop on an emergency loan deal from Sunderland for their final three games of the 2009-10 campaign. Mancini hopes he will not have to do something similar this time.

"I am disappointed for him because we have lost a good goalkeeper," added Mancini. "Last year we had the problem in the last three games because we lost him to injury and I hope this year it is not the same."

Asked if he would recall David Gonzales from his loan spell at Leeds, Mancini said: "Probably. We can take David from Leeds - we don't have many more options."

Republic manager Giovanni Trapattoni had already ruled Given out his plans ahead of the European Championship qualifier against Macedonia in Dublin next month.

“I am disappointed that Shay will not be able make it in for the Macedonia qualifier due to a shoulder injury,” said Trapattoni earlier this week.

“Shay’s presence in the squad has always been extremely important and he will certainly be missed. That said, we have good options in Keiren Westwood and Joe Murphy.”

Given could also miss Ireland’s Carling Nations Cup games against Northern Ireland in late May and, more importantly, the return game against Macedonia in early June.