MIDDLESBROUGH have confirmed the signing of Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given on loan.

With Jason Steele facing a three-match ban, Boro have set up a one-month deal for Given.

The 37-year-old Irishman, a former stalwart at Newcastle United who currently plays for Aston Villa, but has been frozen out of the picture at Villa Park.

A statement on the club's website said: "Boro have this evening taken international goalkeeper Shay Given on loan for a month. The 37-year-old Irishman is in the squad for Saturday.

"Should he make his Boro debut, he will become one of a select band of players to have played for Boro, Newcastle and Sunderland where he spent time on loan in 1996 making 17 appearances."

Boro do have Steele's deputy Jayson Leutwiler on their books, but new boss Aitor Karanka clearly believes he needs someone with more first-team experience between the posts.

Middlesbrough are at home to Bolton on Saturday in a match that marks Karanka's first game at the Riverside.