Given hoping for Magpies milestone

NEWCASTLE goalkeeper Shay Given is hoping to overcome injury to make his 400th appearance for the club in tomorrow’s clash at Everton.

Given missed the St Stephen’s Day defeat by Bolton after succumbing to groin problems in the previous Premiership fixture against Tottenham.

Pavel Srnicek is again on hand to deputise at Goodison Park but Roeder has not ruled Given out, meaning he could become only the ninth player to reach a quadruple century in Magpies history.

Roeder said: “Shay is hoping to be back against Everton and we have not discounted this, although perhaps he will have a better chance of making the Manchester United game (on Monday).

“But regardless of when Shay does come back, I have to say that we have complete confidence in Pavel Srnicek.”

Veteran Srnicek, 38, a star of the Kevin Keegan era a decade ago, rejoined the club on a free transfer in October as back-up at a time when Given and Steve Harper were both injured.

The Czech is one of four goalkeepers to have featured this term with Tim Krul, who is also not fully fit despite being on the bench last Saturday, being the other.

Srnicek played the last three minutes against Spurs after Given left the field and started at the Reebok Stadium.

Roeder is hopeful the injury situation involving his keepers will soon start to clear.

He added: “Steve will put his gloves back on in the next couple of days after his double hernia operation but he is still couple of weeks away.

“As far as Tim is concerned, he has only had a couple of days training after a cartilage operation, and while he may have to go on the bench again over the weekend, as he was at Bolton , he is still not fully fit.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has told his strikers to start making the most of their chances when they look to get back in the top four against Tottenham tomorrow.

Peter Crouch was guilty of the most glaring misses against Blackburn at Ewood Park before he was replaced by Dirk Kuyt, while Xabi Alonso and Craig Bellamy were also denied by goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

Having scored 13 goals in their previous four Premiership matches – two away from home – it was a disappointing way for a seven-game unbeaten run to end and Benitez knows his side cannot afford to be as wasteful if they want to continue their push for a Champions League place.

“We have to analyse why we didn’t score and why we didn’t create more chances in the second half. We must look to the next game against Tottenham and take our chances there,” he said.

Benitez, a critic of the crammed festive programme, has insisted his controversial squad rotation system does not excuse a striker failing to make the most of his chances in front of goal.

Crouch was making his first start since the goalless draw at home to Portsmouth on November 29 and seemed sluggish as he directed three headers straight into the arms of Friedel.

But he won no sympathy from Benitez, who added: “If the other strikers are playing well and the team is winning at a top side, that (squad rotation) is something you need to know and manage.”