Given fit for tonights Anfield trip

By Matthew Jones
September 2 2002

Goalkeeper Shay Given - who had been struggling with a back injury - has been passed fit for Monday night's clash with Liverpool at Anfield.

Goalkeeper Shay Given - who had been struggling with a back injury - has been passed fit for Monday night's clash with Liverpool at Anfield.

The Republic of Ireland international has not missed a league game for Newcastle since January 2001 and admitted that he feared he may have to miss Monday's clash of the Titans with back trouble, but he has been given the green light.

Given said earlier: "I'd hate to miss out, particularly because I know Steve Harper is likely to fill in so well.

"I hurt my back in training on Monday and felt it in the warm-up before the Champions League game on Wednesday.

"I'm seeing a specialist, who will hopefully tell me what the problem is."

Sir Bobby Robson is likely to to keep faith with the players that defeated Zeljeznicar 4-0 last week, but he will be boosted by the news that Craig Bellamy and possibly Laurent Robert could be back on the bench after being named in the squad.

United (probable): Given, Dabizas, Bernard, Bramble, Hughes, Viana, Speed, Dyer, Solano, Shearer, LuaLua.