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.