Shay Given: 'I needed first-team football'

Shay Given has admitted that the offer of first-team football was the main motivation for his move to Aston Villa.

The Irish goalkeeper moved to Villa Park for £3.5m last week after spending much of last season on the substitutes' bench at Manchester City.

The 35-year-old, who fell behind Joe Hart in the pecking order at Eastlands, admitted that he needs to be playing as regularly as possible at his age.

Given said: "For me, it's about playing football. You've got one career and I want to play as much as I can.

"I've just turned 35 and I'm at a stage in my career where I need to be playing regularly - that was all I was thinking."

Alex McLeish's first signing as Villa manager is likely to be joined by Wigan's Charles N'Zogbia, as the French winger was due to undergo a medical at Villa Park today.