AMSTERDAM – With Shay Given battling a groin injury picked up in training last week, Aston Villa netminder Brad Guzan may be in line to start Saturday's FA Cup Final against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium.
Guzan was on the bench while youngster Jed Steer started the final Premier League match of the season, a 1-0 home loss to relegated Burnley. Before serving as back-up for the last four games of the season the US No. 1 had started 108 consecutive EPL contests for Villa.
Now, with Given hobbling, he must quickly shake off any rust accumulated since his blunder gifted Manchester City an early lead in a Round 34 defeat to be ready for Villa's first FA Cup Final appearance in 15 years.
"Brad will play [against Arsenal if Given is not fit]," Sherwood told reporters. "I have no idea what [Given's] chances are right now. We are assessing him each day. We are not ruling him out yet."
Guzan has just one win in seven career games against the Gunners, with the last three meetings ending in Villa defeats. This season, Arsenal steamrolled the Villans twice, to the tune of an 8-0 combined tally.
Should the former Chivas USA star start the final, it would make for an interesting twist of fate. Guzan backstopped Villa all the way to the 2010 League Cup final, only to be replaced for a 2-1 championship match loss to Manchester United by regular starter Brad Friedel.
Villa has raised the FA Cup seven times, but not since 1957. A famous win over Arsenal on Saturday would also earn the club a place in the group stage of the Europa League.
Greg Seltzer covers Americans based in Europe for MLSsoccer.com.
