Given future top priority for Magpies

IF Michael Owen does not want to discuss his future until the summer, Newcastle must give retaining Shay Given their immediate attention.

It emerged last week the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper is unsettled at St James’ Park and he showed yet again Saturday why he will leave huge gloves to fill if he moves on.

Given produced a number of excellent saves to keep the Magpies in the FA Cup as an entertaining all-Premier League third-round clash at Hull ended in a goalless draw.

The sides will meet again to settle the tie on Wednesday week and Magpies boss Joe Kinnear must hope Given is still on his squad list.

A statement from the 32-year-old’s representative suggested the player was considering his options in light of continued unrest on Tyneside and the supposed interest of other clubs.

Magpies assistant boss Chris Hughton denied the club had received any approaches for Given after the game at the KC Stadium but that is unlikely to remain the case if he maintains his current form.

Winger Jonas Gutierrez was one team-mate who was impressed, but the Argentinian winger did point out that Given has a perfectly able understudy in Steve Harper waiting in the wings.

“It is very good for all the team,” Gutierrez said. “But I think we have two goalkeepers that are very good.

“Shay or Harper, they are very good. So we know that if we don’t play Shay, we play Harper, he will be very good too. We have very good goalkeepers.”

Hughton was at least pleased the club are still in the hat for the fourth round draw and hopes that a good run can bring some cheer to fans after another unsettled campaign.

“Going into the game, you always look and want to finish the tie first time, but we now have the opportunity at home,” Hughton said. “I think the possibility of making progress in this competition is more important than getting it over and done with.

“There is no doubt staying in this division and winning games in this division is the most important thing.

“But how we are as a club, the support we have, any type of run in the cup will be a welcome run.”

HULL: Duke, Doyle, Turner, McShane, Ricketts, Fagan (Halmosi 73), Giannakopoulos, Boateng, Marney, Geovanni, Cousin (King 73). Subs Not Used: Ashbee, France, Zayatte, Warner, Featherstone.

NEWCASTLE: Given, Coloccini, Bassong, Taylor, Jose Enrique, Duff, Guthrie, Butt, N’Zogbia (Gutierrez 36), Owen, Carroll.

Subs Not Used: Harper, Xisco, Geremi, Kadar, Edgar, LuaLua.

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).