Source: Daily_Mail
Shay Given ready to quit Manchester City if Joe Hart is Eastlands first choice
Having spent the pre-season watching Joe Hart start all six of Manchester City's warm-up games, Shay Given is not going to sit quietly on the sidelines as the real business begins. [LNB]The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper, arguably the finest in the Premier League, is ready to throw Eastlands into turmoil by demanding showdown talks with manager Roberto Mancini if he is left out of the side to face Tottenham on Saturday. [LNB] No 1 rivals: City keepers Hart (left) and Given in pre-season training[LNB]ShayGiven v Joe Hart: The facts behind the fight to be Manchester City's No1 Given is believed to be prepared to request a transfer if he is lefton the bench. Mancini says he has yet to decide whether to start Givenor England keeper Joe Hart at White Hart Lane but Hart is thought to behis first choice. [LNB]With Fabio Capello hoping to name the Premier League keeper of lastseason as his No 1 for England's Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, thereis pressure on Mancini to go with the Englishman, who has returned toCity after an impressive season at Birmingham City. [LNB]Ireland No 1 Given, who is recovering from a shoulder injury withhis 104th cap against Argentina on Wendesday night, says Mancini hasgiven no indication who will play.[LNB] But the 34-year-old, a £6million signing from Newcastle just 18months ago, has made it clear he is not prepared to start as asubstitute and will seek a meeting with the Italian coach on Monday. [LNB]Big decision: manager Mancini[LNB]Given said: 'I haven't joined City to sit on the bench. I've gonethere to play. If that's not the case, I'll sit down on Monday with theclub and see where I can go after that. The manager hasn't picked theteam yet and he hasn't spoken to me. It's not ideal. You want to knowmentally whether you're starting.' [LNB]Given, in Dublin for the first international at the re-builtLansdowne Road, could have skipped Monday's press conference before theArgentina friendly. But, as ever, he was keen to speak, and will behappy to confront Mancini if he is overlooked for the season's opener. [LNB]He said: 'It's different if you're a midfielder - you can rotate them and play them in different positions. It's a specialistposition and you can only play the one player. [LNB]'Joe did well last yearand deserves great credit for that but I'd like to think I did OK atManchester City. I missed only the last week of the season and I workedhard all summer to be fit for the new campaign.' [LNB]Last week Sunderland boss Steve Bruce revealed his loan bid for Hartwas turned down by City. Bruce wanted cover for injured Craig Gordonfor two months. [LNB]City have also rejected offers from Fulham and Arsenal. ArseneWenger kept tabs on Given during his 10 years at Newcastle but neveraccepted the club's valuation. Given has now again been linked withWenger as he seeks an experienced keeper. [LNB]Given said: 'To discuss now would be a little disrespectful to thegoalkeepers they have already. Arsenal are a fantastic club, it's justtoo soon.' [LNB]Given added: 'I'm 34 and you cherish every year, every game. For me,it's very important that I play football. I know I'm at a veryexciting, very ambitious club with great owners and great ambition towin trophies. That's why I went there.' [LNB]Mancini said: 'We have two good keepers and one will play and onewill stay on the bench. We play a lot of games in one year - threegames every week - so we could play both goalkeepers.'[LNB] Shay Given v Joe Hart: The facts behind the fight to be Manchester City's No 1 Sign up to our FREE Fantasy Football game - with £40,000 in prize money up for grabsJoe Hart could be England's number one and Manchester City's number two warns Roberto ManciniI didn't join Man City for the money, insists Barcelona defector YayaMario is Super: Patrick Vieira excited by prospect of Balotelli moving to Manchester CityMANCHESTER CITY FC
