Martin O'Neill and Shay Given have both denied that the player attached any conditions to his return from international retirement.

The manager suggested that the 38 year-old’s inclusion in the squad this week was initially intended as an opportunity for the pair to decide whether he might have something to contribute over the coming campaign.

Given certainly seemed to have already made up his mind on that front with the Donegalman admitting that he hoped to be involved right up to and including the European Championships in France.

But both men acknowledged that that is some way off and that much could depend on his ability to secure the regular first team club football that has eluded him for most of the last two years.

"Absolutely not; no promises whatsoever have been made," said O'Neill in relation to reports last week that Given had agreed to return only on the basis that he would be the manager's first choice ahead of David Forde and Keiren Westwood.

“Aston Villa have given him some time, he’s here for a few days and I’m having a look at it.”

O'Neill, in fact, hinted at one stage that David Forde would retain his place in the starting line up for Sunday's qualifying game in Georgia on the basis of his previous performances for Ireland.

“Players who have been in the team and done well shouldn’t worry too much,” he said before adding that he would only decide on his starting line-up for Tbilisi, “a couple of hours before the game.”

He said, however, that none of the other goalkeepers should be upset by Given’s return.

“If you think that you’re good enough to be in the team on the basis of your own abilities then you shouldn’t worry too much about others coming in.”

Given, who trained with the other three goalkeepers – Forde, Westwood and Rob Elliott – does seem likely to get time in the team in the friendly against Oman as the manager assesses his fitness and form.

O'Neill acknowledged that the 38 year-old could do with playing regularly when he returns to England if he is serious about staying involved.

"Time does age you," said the player who won the last of his 125 caps against Italy in Poland two years ago, "but I am working hard in the gym, doing yoga and doing all the stuff that when you get older that helps you keep flexible.

“I played last week and felt sharp. I played a few games pre-season as well so I feel sharp. Ideally, I would like to play more games to get match sharpness but hopefully with the friendly it would be nice to get a game.

“I think that’s normal as it is with any position,” he continued, “although goalkeeper is slightly different, you can maybe get away with a little bit more as you don’t have to have the fitness levels when you are playing 90 minutes outfield but obviously it is not ideal, you want to be playing as much as possible.”

Asked whether he might get out on loan from Villa today, he said: “I don’t know, today is a busy day for managers and players throughout Britain. People are watching TV and wondering if the phone ring at some point but I don’t know.”

O’Neill, meanwhile, expects all the players in the squad to be available for selection on Wednesday.

James McCarthy worked along with the physios yesterday while Wes Hoolahan, John O'Shea, Joey O'Brien skipped training and Jon Walters and Marc Wilson had scans but none appears to be causing any major concern.