TAIWO HORROR HAS SHAY SUFFERING FLASHBACKS

FOOTBALL: GIVEN REMEMBERS OWN PAIN

- By Simon Mullock

FORMER goalkeeper Shay Given suffered flashbacks after hearing Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi had been placed in an induced coma as he recovers from a life-threatening abdominal injury.

Given had to undergo emergency surgery for a torn bowel after a sickening collision with West Ham’s Marlon Harewood in 2006, while playing for Newcastle.

The Irishman, now a pundit and media expert, wanted to reach out to Awoniyi as the Nigerian recovers after surgery following a needless collision with a goalpost during a draw with Leicester on Sunday.

Given said: “When I heard how Awoniyi’s condition deteriorated I started having flashbacks because it sounds like a very similar injury to mine. I want to reach out because there is nothing more painful than what he’s going through.