Irish trio target goals against Given

IT is less than a month since Shay Given reclaimed the place in the Newcastle goal that had been his for a decade but it seems that even his friends from back home are keen to make him wish he had stayed on the bench.

Today, the strength of Newcastle’s European ambitions are likely to receive a rigorous testing at Reading, where three of Given’s Republic of Ireland colleagues are intent on giving him a hard time.

Kevin Doyle is the Royals’ most in-form front-man having netted three times in the last two games, twice in a losing cause at Blackburn after a home winner at Derby’s expense, and his former Cork City team-mate Shane Long will be looking to bolster his reputation as an “impact” substitute when Sam Allardyce’s side comes to call.