Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given could be set to leave St James Park after his lawyer admitted that the Irishman has become disillusioned with the state of the club both on and off the field.
It is thought that Given reached the ‘lowest point of his football career’ after Newcastle lost 5-1 to Liverpool last weekend. It was a game where Given made a number of outstanding saves, but his team were outclassed from start to finish.
Something these saves did was remind the rest of the Premier League just how good a goalkeeper Given is. In the last week or so this has resulted in the 32-year-old being linked with a move away from Newcastle United.
Joe Kinnear then came out and said that his keeper would not be sold, but it appears that the player himself may be thinking differently.
Michael Kennedy, Given’s lawyer, has revealed that the only thing Given can see for Newcastle this season is a ‘battle for survival’ and with this in mind, the keeper has decided to ‘consider his position’ at the club.
Given has been very loyal to Newcastle during his 11 years at the club, but perhaps he should start to think of his own career for once. Being one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, surely he deserves a chance to play Champions League football again before he has to retire?
The soccer betting odds may well expect Newcastle to battle against relegation in the coming months, where as a move to Arsenal, Tottenham or even Manchester City, could result in a much more productive start to 2009 for Given.
It is thought that a fee of around £8m would be enough to prize him away from Newcastle and considering the quality he has – this would be a bargain in my opinion. I’d even suggest that Manchester United should try and sign him in a bid to replace 38-year-old Edwin van der Sar.
By Thomas Rooney – A sports writer who blogs about football betting and tipping














