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Given hails youngster's potential

Aston Villa, Last updated:

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Shay Given is tipping young Aston Villa goalkeeper Benji Siegrist for a bright future as he gears up for the Olympics.

The 20-year-old will be representing Switzerland during the Games this summer and Given is convinced he will make a lasting impression.
Siegrist, who is yet to make a senior appearance for Villa, is the club's only player on duty at London 2012 and his more senior rival believes the whole experience will stand him in good stead.
Villa's number one has seen enough of the youngster on the training ground to be impressed by his potential, even though he is quite a way down the pecking order at the Midlands club.
Given said: "He comes across as a confident sort of guy, which is what you need to be a goalkeeper, but not too confident.
"He's keen to learn, which is important. He's got little things he needs to improve on, but he knows that himself.
"Benji's a big guy, he's a confident guy and I think it's good that Terry Gennoe's working with him and helping him to improve. I think he's keen to listen as well which is important and hopefully he'll have a big future with us.
"He's only 20 so at that age I don't think he should expect too much. But with Terry and the senior lads like myself and Andy Marshall coaching him and helping him learn, I think he should be in safe hands.
"Coming on the first-team trips has been good experience for him and he was coming out and helping to warm us up before games last season. It will give him a good feel for things."
The Ireland international is due to report back himself for pre-season training on Monday after playing for his country at Euro 2012, so third-choice stopper Marshall will keep goal in Saturday's friendly at Burton Albion.

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