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.

“The bottom line was that had my neck been broken, I may not have played again. I could have been just one challenge away from that, and when I came down I really did think something was gone because there was a proper crunch.

“It just shows how quickly it could all end and it puts everything else into perspective. But fortunately, I was okay.”

Given is now more worried about the knee injury he picked up during the same game, and although he played against Everton at the weekend, he is facing something of a fight to make his side’s clashes with Bolton and NAC Breda in the next nine days.

Given added: “I’m a bit concerned about it, but the physio says it should be okay and it should settle down again for Saturday.”

Meanwhile, Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson is expected to contest his FA charge within the next 24 hours. The departure of United chief executive Peter Kenyon last week saw Ferguson granted an extension to the 14-day deadline he was given to respond to the misconduct charge which followed his side’s 2-1 win over Newcastle at St James’ Park last month.