Middlesbrough have signed the experienced Irish goalkeeper Shay Given on a month-long loan deal.
Recently appointed Boro coach Aitor Karanka was keen to bring in a new shot-stopper, with regular first choice Jason Steele facing a three-match suspension following his dismissal in the 2-1 defeat at Leeds United last weekend.
And the Riverside Stadium club have pounced for Given, once considered as good as any keeper in the country, from Aston Villa, who have agreed to let him make the move to the Championship club for a one-month arrangement.
A statement on the club’s website said: “Boro have this evening taken international goalkeeper Shay Given on loan for a month. The 37-year-old Irishman is in the squad for Saturday. Should he make his Boro debut, he will become one of a select band of players to have played for Boro, Newcastle United and Sunderland.”
Given, who has 125 international caps for the Republic of Ireland, has lost his place in the Villa goal to Brad Guzan. As well as starring for Newcastle and Sunderland, he has featured for Blackburn Rovers, Swindon Town (loan) and Manchester City.
