Given Set For Surgery

Newcastle United's #1 keeper Shay Given looks set for the operating table after being taken off at half time against Manchester United at the weekend. The keeper originally became injured against Aston Villa 2 weekend's ago, and was replaced by Steve Harper. He started the match against United on Saturday but failed to reappear after half time, sparking concerns over the extent of the injury.

The Republic of Ireland International has had a reoccuring groin injury since September 2006, after a nasty incident with then West Ham player Marlon Harewood which led to Given needing surgery on a perforated bowel.

However despite this he was deemed fit to play against United on Saturday after passing all the relevant medicals and fitness tests. Manager Kevin Keegan has today shouldered the blame for the extent of his keeper's injury and has said it was too soon to play him, which is also what many of the fans thought.

"I take full responsibility for that, Shay only had two weeks to get over a groin injury.

He passed every fitness test, but I knew there was a slight risk playing him. He wanted to play and made every effort to get fit.

Rather than be stupid, I took him off, and I thought Steve Harper did well in the second half and made a couple of great saves."

Harper, Newcastle's loyal, second keeper who has to date been at the club for 15 years and is the only remaining player from the 1st Keegan era, replaced Given in both the Villa game and the United match. He made his 100th appearence for the club on Saturday and it looks as though he may make a few more this season, for Given, if he does have surgery will be out for many weeks, and may not recover in time to play again this season.

Unfortunately for Harper he was brought on well into both matches, which ultimately ended in defeat. Whilst he conceded a number of goals over both matches, had it not been for his leaky defence then his talent would have really shone. In both matches Harper made a number of exellent saves, and the goals he let in were beyond his reach. It was the defence ahead of him which posed the most problems.

Harper will definately make the starting line up against Blackburn at the weekend whether Given needs surgery or not.

Newcastle United have not been victorious in their last 10 matches and the gap between where they currently sit, at 13th in the league and the drop zone is just 6 points, a gap which is slowing decreasing. 

They have a goal difference of -22, the 3rd lowest in the league, behind relegation striken Derby County who have a difference of -44 and Reading who have a difference of -24. Newcastle's worst record in seasons.

Newcastle finished last season in 13th spot with a goal difference of -9 and a gap of just 7 points between them and the 18th spot. The table below outlines the difference over the past few seasons.