Souness will demand high standards, says Given

GOALKEEPER Shay Given yesterday expressed the hope that Graeme Souness would enjoy the same level of success with Newcastle United as he did when manager of Rangers and Blackburn Rovers.

Given, on international duty with Ireland in Basel, said news of the appointment of the former Scottish international to the job left vacant by the sacking of Bobby Robson had taken him by surprise.

He said: "It was a bit of a surprise the way it all happened because Graeme was not in the front running. The papers were full of Terry Venables' talks with the club and it seemed that he was going to get the job after his second interview this week.