Shay Given will not be joining Newcastle United
Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton has confirmed that the Irish international goalkeeper will not be rejoining the club on a loan deal.
First choice goalkeeper Steve Harper served as Shay Given’s understudy before Given left for Manchester City. Harper picked up a shoulder injury after colliding with Everton’s Jermaine Beckford at Goodison Park in last weekend’s Premier League match. The
goalkeeper is believed to have damaged ligaments but the full extent of the injury has yet to be confirmed.
Harper’s injury leaves only young goalkeeper Tim Krul as backup in what is an important first season in the Premier league for Newcastle.
Given spent eleven and a half years at the club and would be a popular loan signing amongst fans. He is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League. It has been well documented that the player desires a move away from Manchester City having
lost his place to the England number-one Joe Hart this season. Given has not featured in any of City’s Premier League or UEFA Cup games and has told Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini that he wants to play first team football. Mancini has said, “I told
Shay that he can stay but I respect his decision and if he wants to leave he can.”
Given has already been linked with a move to Arsenal. However, Manchester City were unwilling to loan the goalkeeper to a rival and a deal back to Newcastle seemed a plausible outcome. Hughton has ended any speculation by claiming that he is comfortable
playing Krul who is an extremely talented keeper, but is very inexperienced. Krul will play his first match against Chelsea in the Carling Cup tomorrow. Newcastle’s only other experienced goalkeeper is Fraser Foster who has a loan deal with Celtic until January.
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