Shay can shine on world stage - Bonner

Shay Given is being tipped to prove he is the best young goalkeeper in Europe at the World Cup finals.

Ireland goalkeeping coach Packie Bonner believes Newcastle ace Given is already better than England pair David Seaman and Nigel Martyn, and France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez.

Given was voted goalkeeper of the year by his fellow professionals, ahead of that trio of Premiership colleagues from Arsenal, Leeds and Manchester United.

Now Bonner, himself a former Republic goalkeeper who won 80 caps, is backing 26-year-old Given to shine on the world stage.

‘‘The difference between Barthez and Shay is attitude,’’ said Bonner. ‘‘He has the confidence but not the cockiness of the Frenchman and that is why, I believe, he will prove himself a better custodian than Barthez in Japan.

‘‘Arrogance leads to mistakes in a goalkeeper. We have seen that repeatedly with Barthez over the past 12 months and, thankfully, that is not something that could ever be levelled at Shay.

‘‘He hit a rough patch about two years ago that has been the making of him. He lost out to Alan Kelly with Ireland and Steve Harper at Newcastle and Shay had to look in the mirror and ask a few hard questions.

‘‘He realised then that he was not going to be the world’s number one without a lot of hard work. Shay put his head down, put the hours in and is now first choice for his club manager Bobby Robson and Ireland boss Mick McCarthy.

‘‘That is his right and I really believe that he will justify my faith in him at this summer’s World Cup.’’

Given will win his 40th cap for Ireland in their opening Group E clash with Cameroon on Saturday, and Bonner believes his biggest test will come from the new ball being used at the finals.

‘‘The big test for goalkeepers in Japan will come with the new adidas Fevernova ball,’’ said Bonner.

‘‘It is light, it is whippy and it is pacy. It is easy to use the ball as an excuse. I always laugh that Craig Johnstone was to blame for my error against Holland in Orlando eight years ago because he developed a new ball for those finals.

‘‘I use that excuse as a joke. No player can blame the ball when it all goes wrong - and I don’t believe it will go wrong for Shay Given in Japan and Korea.’’