Given put up for loan

Aston Villa have made their out of favour goalkeeper Shay Given available for loan, the Guardian understands.

The 37 year old, who is the second most capped player of all time for the Republic of Ireland, has not played a competitive game since the FA Cup fourth round defeat to Millwall in January, and made just two league appearances in the entirety of last season.

Brad Guzan has established himself as Paul Lambert’s first choice goalkeeper, while the promising Jed Steer signed from Norwich City in the summer.

Liverpool had been linked with a loan move for the former Manchester City and Newcastle United man, but the Merseyside club only offered to pay a fraction of the player’s wages, and it his salary of £3m a year that could see him stuck on the Villa subs bench.

Championship clubs can now make bids to sign players on loan after the window opened on Monday, though it is unlikely that any second-tier clubs will be willing to meet Given’s wage demands.