PLAYER PROFILE

Shay Given

Position: Goal

Height: 6'1

Weight: 13st 0lbs

Date of Birth: 1976-04-20 Lifford, Republic Of Ireland

Shay Given

Shay Given found it impossible to displace Tim Flowers at Blackburn and decided to follow Kenny Dalglish to Newcastle, where first team action also enabled him to further his international career with the Republic of Ireland.

Sadly a dip in form after struggling against injuries meant he didn't play in the 1999 FA Cup Final, however Shay remains a talented and popular player with a long career ahead of him.

Shay initially came to prominence when on loan from Blackburn to Sunderland where his performances in the 1995-96 season - he kept 11 clean sheets in 17 appearances - played a large part in the Wearsiders promotion to the Premiership.

After fighting off challengers for his Newcastle place, Given has blossomed into one of the Barclaycard Premiership's best keepers, playing in every game during the 2001/02 season. It was just before the World Cup that Shay signed a five-year deal.

He went on to make a big impression in the 2002 World Cup with Ireland, although failed to stop the Republic exiting on penalties to Spain. He became the Magpies' most capped player in April when he earned his 41st cap (50 altogether) while playing for Newcastle.

Given made his 200th appearance for the Magpies during the 2003/04 season, as he continuted in fine form for both club and country.

He continued to dominate the Number 1 jersey in the 2004/05 season. He was an important player for the Magpies (a point proven by his claiming of the FA Cup Quarter Final Player of the Round) and kept 15 clean sheets in 52 games. He also continued to be integral to the Republic of Ireland set-up as they narrowly failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup.

2005/06 once more proved a success for Given as he was a rock at the back for Newcastle United and signed a new contract which will keep him at the club until 2011.

And he went about repaying the club's faith in him in 2006/07 as he was once more the number one choice between the sticks, despite some troubling injuries.

Injury kept him out during periods in 2007/08, but he is still very much Magpies number one.