300 Games For Newcastle 'Keeper Given

By Matthew Jones
November 25 2004

Shay Given will guard the goal tonight, as Newcastle take on Sochaux tonight in France, in the UEFA Cup. Steve Harper was expected to play, but instead, Souness will hand 28-year-old Shay Given his 300th appearance for the Magpies.

Given joined the Magpies' in 1997 for £1.5million from Blackburn Rovers and has been one of Newcastle's key players ever since.  Many fans will argue that there is none better in the Premiership.

Approaching such a milestone, Shay Given said:

"It's great that I've played so many games for such a good club and hopefully there'll be 300 more. You just don't know.

"I suppose the two FA Cup semi-finals stick out and Barcelona a few years back when we beat them at home - that was a big game in the Champions League.

"There are some great memories and some great trips in Europe as well. Newcastle have played in Europe most seasons that I've been here, so that's a bonus as well.

"But we're still missing that silverware, including myself. I'd really like to win something, and that's what it boils down to.

"That's 300 games and we haven't won anything - but hopefully I can do that and the team can do that and the club.

"We're a big club and we've got a great squad of players - all that's missing really is something that we haven't won."