Grant ,who joined Stoke on loan from Derby, says he has the utmost respect for the veteran ‘keeper who will soon enter his 23rd year as a professional.
Stoke City goalkeeper Lee Grant has told the club’s official website his admiration of fellow shot-stopper Shay Given and how he still looks up to the veteran.
Grant was a surprising arrival at The Potters on deadline day after losing his place in the Derby County side to Scott Carson and signed a short-term loan deal with Stoke until January.
The 33-year-old has since ousted Given from Mark Hughes’ side as first-choice Jack Butland remains sidelined, but Grant gave a brilliant performance in the 1-1 draw away to Manchester United making a string of fine saves to surely keep his place in the team for the crucial clash against fellow strugglers Sunderland.
Despite keeping Given on the bench, Grant isn’t taking his place in the side for granted and holds a lot of appreciation for the man who made his professional bow all the way back in 1994.
Stoke City’s Lee Grant celebrates after the Manchester United game
“Fortunately, it’s me that’s playing at the moment but that’s not to say I’m expecting to play this weekend,” Grant told the Stoke website.
“It’s a job we all work hard at Monday to Friday in order to be in contention for the number one shirt. Shay is someone who I have so much respect for because of the career he has had and is still having.
“He’s somebody that I actually look up to now and think that if I can maintain my physical shape the way he does then I might have a chance of playing at 40 also.”
Given has made 636 appearances during his long career and is regarded as one of the Premier League’s best ever goalkeepers.
In recent years appearances have been much harder to come by, making just 13 in the last four years as he’s played back-up at Aston Villa and Stoke, after making his name with Newcastle United and enjoying a short spell at Manchester City.
Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic in action with Stoke City’s Ryan Shawcross and Lee Grant
Even though his best days are firmly behind him, Grant believes Given still provides competition at the club, who will be searching for a first league win on Saturday and who also have Jakob Haugaard waiting in the wings.
“I think competition is a positive for any goalkeeper because you will always perform to your best and you are always pushing and challenging yourself,” he said.
“Particularly at this Club, the goalkeeping department is so strong. There’s Jack [Butland] who, I’d say, is currently the Club’s number one and is one of the finest prospects we have in this country.
“Then there’s Jakob [Haugaard] who works so hard, day in and day out, it’s a great mix of talent we have here and we’re all pushing in the same direction, which makes things much more enjoyable.”
Stoke City’s Lee Grant celebrates
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