Former Celtic goalkeeping coach Terry Gennoe believes that Shay Given is being wasted on the bench at Manchester City. The 35-year old Republic of Ireland international, who worked with Gennoe during his Celtic Park days, fell behind Joe Hart in the City pecking order at the start of last season and played second fiddle to the England number one for the entire campaign.
Now Given's mentor, who was a top goalkeeper himself with Blackburn Rovers and others, says a potential loan move to Celtic would be a great move for the former Newcastle United star.
"Right from day one Shay has been a fantastic goalkeeper, one of the most consistent in the Premiership and there can be no higher praise for him than that," he told SunSport.
"I've felt a great degree of sympathy for Shay over the last 12 months in that for some reason Roberto Mancini has looked beyond him for Man City's No 1.
"Don't get me wrong, Joe Hart is a tremendous prospect and someone I'd spotted at Shrewsbury Town long before he came to prominence.
"He has exceptional potential and has become England's first choice.
"But Shay is still such a good goalkeeper that I'd never go against him. He deserves to be playing more regularly.
"Despite his lack of regular action he's still been producing top-class performances for the Republic of Ireland and that says it all about Shay and the standard he strives to maintain.
"Going back to Celtic would effectively be his career going full circle - and I'd be thrilled to see him back there. It's a club that means a great deal to both of us.
"I loved my time there and even after Shay left Celtic for Blackburn, then Newcastle United, he still talked about the club often as a big supporter.
"Celtic is a club that places a massive pressure on goalkeepers, but Shay could handle that no problem.
"I know him closely as a friend too and can vouch for his character.
"Shay is a class act as a guy and is the ultimate professional. Shay is the polished article as a goalkeeper."
