Newcastle United Football Club News

• Nickname:Magpies
• Founded:1881
• Manager:Alan Pardew

• Ground:St James' Park
• Capacity:52,193

Green light for Given

15 Aug 2006 - 09:00:29

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Newcastle United manager Glenn Roeder expects goalkeeper Shay Given to recover from a back problem in time to play in the opening day clash with Wigan Athletic.

The ultra consistent 30-year-old picked up the injury during last week's 1-0 UEFA Cup victory at Ventspils and had to ask Republic of Ireland boss Steve Staunton for permission to miss Wednesday's international friendly against the Netherlands.

Roeder told the Evening Chronicle: "Ireland manager Steve Staunton has been really excellent and understanding about all this.

"If he had taken the opposite stance there would have been a chance that Shay would not have been fit for us on Saturday, but fortunately this is now not the case.

"Shay has a slight muscle strain but he will be okay for Saturday."