Given hungry for top spot

Shay Given will lead Newcastle out at the Commerzbank Arena on Thursday night under orders to complete a remarkable UEFA Cup job.

The 30-year-old Irishman will captain the Magpies in the absence of the injured Scott Parker and is determined to return to Tyneside with at least the point they need against Eintracht Frankfurt to secure top spot in Group H.

Last week’s 2-1 home victory over Celta Vigo, which came on the back of wins over Fenerbahce and Palermo, ensured their place when the knockout stage begins in February, and that is something Given admits he did not expect.

He said: “No, probably not. The draw was made and we all thought ‘bloody hell’. We could not have had it much tougher.

“When the teams kept coming out, it was another tough European team. But credit to the lads, it was a tough group and we have ground out some fantastic results, and it would be great if we could finish off and win the group.

“It is nice that the pressure is off. It would be nice to top the group, but, at the same time, we know we are already in the next round. But we will be going out there hoping to top the group.”

Sunday’s 1-0 Barclays Premiership victory over Portsmouth – their first in the league in 10 attempts – extended the club’s unbeaten run in all competitions to five games and that is something they are keen to continue ahead of Reading’s visit to St James’ Park next Wednesday.

However, they will have to do it without a host senior players – a situation that means manager Glenn Roeder may have to include up to six largely untried Academy graduates on the bench.

James Milner could play if he shakes off a hip problem, while Albert Luque will start despite arriving late in Germany having missed the team flight after a road accident, in which he was unhurt, on the way to Newcastle International Airport.

But such is the growing level of self-belief in the squad that even an acute shortage of players is not fazing them.

Given said: “The confidence is starting to come back into the team and you could see that, especially in the second half on Sunday.

“We should have won by three or four goals. It is probably the best we have played for quite a while. Confidence is a big thing in football and for a few weeks there we were struggling and confidence was quite low.

“But it is great to be full of confidence again, albeit we have got a few more injuries. But it would not be (typical of) our season if we did not.

“We have got a nice little run of undefeated games going on and we would like to keep that going ahead of a massive game next Wednesday.”