Villa's Shay Given sidelined for a month with injury

Aston Villa and Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given will be out of action for a month after suffering a torn hamstring, the Premier League club said on their website (www.avfc.co.uk) on Monday.

Given was substituted in the first half of Villa's 1-0 defeat by Manchester United on Saturday.

"It is disappointing to lose Shay in such circumstances but, unfortunately, these things happen in football," Villa manager Alex Mcleish said.

Given will be replaced by American Brad Guzan.

"We have to meet these challenges and we will," Mcleish added. "We have total faith in Brad."

The 35-year-old Given, Ireland's most capped player, helped his national team to qualify for next year's European Championship with victory over Estonia in last month's playoffs.