Given feared for career

NEWCASTLE and Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given feared his career was over when he thought he had broken his neck.

The 27-year-old was hurt diving into a challenge in the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2004 qualifier against Russia last week, and admitted that the worst possible scenario did cross his mind.

“I thought I’d broken my neck and it was a bit scary to be honest because my career could have been over if that had been the case,” he said.