Shay Given: I'd still love to play for Celtic

Given signed as a teenager for Celtic but he left for Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 1994 and never played for the first team at Parkhead.

The 36-year-old former Ireland international has been regularly linked with a move to the club he supports throughout his career but it has never transpired.

Given is committed to the claret and blues for the time being and is only 16 months into a five-year contract at Villa Park, but would like to turn out for the Hoops before he calls it a day.

"I never say never in football and it's no secret that I would love to play for Celtic," said Given.

"I don't know if that will be possible financially in the future and I am a Villa player.

"But the fact that I never played even a minute for the first team at Parkhead when I was there as a kid has always been a disappointment. Maybe that could change some day, who knows?"

Meanwhile, current first-choice keeper Brad Guzan claimed his Villa team-mates are excited about the progress they have made under Villa boss Paul Lambert.

"We want to create something special and the manager wants to do that too," said Guzan.

"I feel the pieces of his jigsaw are starting to be put in place. It will take time but we're on the right road definitely.

"That's starting to show. Everyone watching could see what we're all about - desire, determination and a real attacking philosophy.

"We will continue to grow and build under the gaffer. We're improving all the time. We're starting to create an identity for ourselves as a team under the manager. It's exciting times ahead.

"We know it's not going to happen overnight but, at the same time, we're really excited about what's going on. It's about where the manager wants to take the club and how we get there. It looks really good."