Given eyes Championship loan

Given: Frustrated at City

Out-of-favour Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given says he would be willing to move to the Championship on loan in order to gain match sharpness.

The Irishman has taken a back seat to England No.1 Joe Hart at Eastlands this season, making just four appearances for the club, none of which were in the Premier League.

Given is understood to have attracted interest from the Championship during this month's transfer window, and the 34-year-old says he would be prepared to go out on loan, as long as he could return at 24 hours' notice if needed.

He told the Daily Mail: "I just want to play. I do not want to go for an entire season without playing and I am prepared to go to a Championship club and be on a 24-hour call-back.

"That would benefit me, by getting me match-sharp, and City, who would have an experienced, match-sharp goalkeeper to come in if Joe got injured."

Republic of Ireland international Given arrived at City from Newcastle in February 2009.

The veteran was a regular between the sticks under former manager Mark Hughes, but has fallen down the pecking order since Roberto Mancini took charge.