Source: Daily_Mail
Given keeping the faith that Newcastle can bounce back up to Premier League
Former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given is backing the Magpies to mount a promotion charge even though the turmoil on Tyneside shows few signs of abating.
The 33-year-old Republic of Ireland international reluctantly ended his association with the club after more than 11 years in January when he headed for Manchester City with things going from bad to worse on and off the pitch.
He perhaps could not have envisaged then just how bad things would get, and the Magpies now find themselves preparing for life in the Coca-Cola Championship with no manager and an owner desperately trying to find a buyer.
But Given remains confident his old employers can make a swift return to the Barclays Premier League.
He told the Evening Chronicle: 'I know the players are determined to get back where they belong as soon as possible. That place is the Premier League.
'The other major factor is the fantastic support up there. They are going to have to add to the squad as well, but they will be in there fighting - and they have a good chance of returning straight away to the top flight.'
Given's comments came as Mike Ashley's efforts to offload the club ground on behind the scenes as prospective buyers attempted to thrash out a deal.
Given said: 'I don't want to say too much on the situation up there because it is bad enough for people. There are not too many positives for the fans right now.
'The sooner the situation is sorted out and the club is sold, the better for the fans.
'I really hope it goes through in the next few weeks, because the sale has gone on for a while now. You want it sorted in time for the start of the season.'
It all seems a far cry from the heights Newcastle reached during the peak years of Given's time at St James' Park under Sir Bobby Robson.
The former England boss, who is currently fighting his fifth battle against cancer, guided the club to three successive top-five finishes and into the Champions League.
And the Irishman insists Robson's achievements should never be forgotten.
Helping to promote the 76-year-old's charity match on July 26, Given said: 'I am still full of admiration for what Sir Bobby has done even now.
'Nobody can question what we achieved back then. It was magnificent to finish third, fourth and fifth in three years and he has easily had the most success of any modern manager.
'Anybody who has ever met him can see that, and it would be tremendous to see a full house on Tyneside for this match.
'Sir Bobby is an inspiration to us all, not just in football, but in life as well. Since he has fallen ill, he has worked so hard to raise more awareness and he seems determined to keep building up the pot. This game is even more evidence of that.
'He has dealt with cancer the way he has lived his life and he is a true fighter. He could have just locked himself away during this difficult time, but he has shown courage and bravery beyond belief.'
Meanwhile, caretaker boss Chris Hughton was putting the current crop of players through their paces in Kildare today (Monday) in three training sessions, the first of them at 7am, in line with plans drawn up by Alan Shearer at the end of the last campaign.
