Newcastle United Football Club News

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

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

Magpies won't call on Given

15 Apr 2008 - 13:50:39

Click To Enlarge

Injured Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given is unlikely to play again until next season.

Given, 31, has been out of action since suffering a recurrence of a long-running groin problem in February.

The Republic of Ireland international is expected to be back to full-fitness before the end of the campaign, but Magpies boss Kevin Keegan sees no sense in rushing his number one back into the starting line-up.

Given has managed just 24 appearances during an injury-ravaged campaign.

"I think he'll be fit by the end of the season and he'll train with us for maybe the last week or 10 days, but there's no sense for him to play a match," Keegan told the Newcastle Chronicle.

"He just needs to know by the end of the season that he's fit, ready to go away and come back fit for pre-season with all his problems behind him.

"I think that, for him, will be a massive relief."