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Given hurting, Guzan looks likely to start FA Cup final against Arsenal

Shay Given has hurt his groin, and that may mean that Brad Guzan gets the start in the FA Cup final.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Shay Given has started every match for Aston Villa in the FA Cup this season. His steady presence as goalkeeper has been a major part of the reason that the club are set to face Arsenal in the final at Wembley on Saturday. But thanks to a groin injury that kept him out of this weekend's Premier League finale against Burnley, Given may have to give up his starting FA Cup role to Brad Guzan.

Guzan has been Villa's first-choice keeper for most of the season, and despite a shoddy game against Manchester City that saw him benched in favor of Given in the league, he's probably the best keeper Villa have. There has been plenty of hand-wringing about who should and who would start at Wembley since Given let six past against Southampton. This would certainly make Tim Sherwood's decision easier.

Sherwood has also said that he has no intention of starting Jed Steer, who got a look against Burnley, in the final. "You wouldn't want to throw Jed in, he's not got a lot of experience in cup finals." Should Guzan get the start, it would certainly be welcome news for him. In the 2010 League Cup, Guzan was in goal for all of the matches and expected to play in the final against Manchester United at Wembley, but was passed over for first-choice keeper Brad Friedel.

What do you think? If Villa are to go with Guzan will it be good news or bad?