Given Could Give Up On Lawrence Record!

Last Updated : 02-Jan-2009 by
A hero on Tyneside, he has made it known he wants to go down in history to match Alan Shearer, who beat Jackie Milburn's Newcastle goalscoring record.

Given is 38 games short beating goalkeeper Jimmy Lawrence's 87-year old appearance record of 496 Toon games.

But his latest statement that he is "at his lowest point as a Newcastle player" suggests he could be moving on ... unless thing off-field change for the better.

Given was very vocal when club owner Mike Ashley said he would not be putting any more cash into transfers, and the poor performance against Liverpool on Sunday seems to be the final straw.

Lawrence played between 1904/22 and (unlike Given who only has one FA Cup appearance medal to his credit) won Championship medals in 1905, 1907 and 1909, plus the FA Cup in 1910, and played in another 4 finals.

Setanta TV reporter Tony Cuddihy suggests Given's career is being wasted at St James' Park.

Tony Cuddihy: "Shay Given has finally done what many in the Irish football community have been saying he should do for years by 'considering' his future in a Newcastle United jersey.

"Make no mistake, the Donegal-born keeper will be wearing a different shade of luminous once the clock strikes February, and this is a good thing.

"For too long one of the best three goalkeepers in the league has laboured behind the likes of Titus Bramble, Jean-Alain Boumsong, David Rozehnal, Abdoulaye Faye, Celestine... OK you get my point.

"The fact that he was man of the match in a 5-1 defeat to Liverpool at Christmas says it all. Given needs an out.

"My thinking is that he'll avoid swapping like-for-like by going to Tottenham, a team having as shambolic a season as Newcastle despite Harry Redknapp's intervention, or the frivolities on offer at Manchester City where he will likely be discarded for a Buffon or Casillas in the summer.

"Arsenal would fit Given like a bad goalkeeping pun.

"Manuel Almunia has never had the look of permanence about him, while Lukas Fabianski comes across as a never-will-be following his few first team appearances to date."