Given blow for Newcastle

IT’S a measure of the mediocrity of this uninspiring fixture that the most significant incident involved was yet another injury to a goalkeeper who has earned the nickname ‘Lazarus’ during his time as Newcastle United’s number one.

Republic of Ireland star Shay Given gained the label from long-serving understudy Steve Harper due to the fact that he almost always recovers from what would appear to be the most serious injuries with a hastiness which defies the medical experts. Not so this season.

A serious abdominal tear, incurred at West Ham last September, has seen the previously super-fit Given transformed. When he limped out of yesterday’s action after just 26 minutes with a groin injury it was the third time this season the former Blackburn Rovers favourite has succumbed to a groin problem.

Given’s manager, Glenn Roeder insisted this latest setback did not spell the end of his goalkeeper’s season but he admitted: “I’m absolutely certain it all leads back to West Ham and the injury which required surgery.

“It’s weakened what we call his middle core and someone who’s never ever injured has suddenly picked up three injuries in the space of even months. It’s no coincidence.

“That’s what I believe, anyway. He’ll probably struggle for the trip to Portsmouth next weekend but we don’t feel his season is over at all.”

Newcastle’s troubled campaign is not over either, if you will believe the player who salvaged a point against Arsenal in the face of some long overdue late pressure from the Gunners.

Nolberto Solano, that most reliable of professionals, blocked two shots in the space of five seconds from the Brazilian international Gilberto Silva six minutes from time. And the Peruvian feels those vital interventions could provide the platform for a second successive top seven finish and qualification for this summer’s Intertoto Cup.

“I was lucky with the first as it bounced off my back,” he said. “But I was able to get up and head the second over my crossbar. We have rediscovered some confidence and now our target is the Intertoto Cup.”

Newcastle will be assisted in that bid should Damien Duff finally rediscover the form which prompted Roeder to invest £5m in his talents last summer.

The United boss believes the latter part of March and early April has been the making of a creative force who has recently lacked focus and confidence.

But Duff must have wished at least one of his three clear chances against Arsenal could have been converted as he looks to double his meager tally of one premiership goal in a black and white shirt.

“He looks a different player after the last three or four games,” said Roeder, in spite of those frustrating misses. “He looks like the Damien Duff who we brought in at the start of the season.

“I’m really, really pleased. He’s a great guy to work with and I truly hope he finishes the season in the style that he has played his last four competitive games for club and country.

“But what we are really looking forward to is seeing the Damien Duff who we know and love starting a full pre-season with us this summer.

“It’s a little bit of a concern that he has failed to score more than one goal this season but at his best he is a midfielder who can get into double figures every year.”

NEWCASTLE: Given, Solano, Onyewu, Taylor, Carr, Milner, Butt, Emre, Duff, Martins, Dyer.

ARSENAL: Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Hleb, Fabregas, Silva, Diaby, Ljungberg, Adebayor.

Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire).