A stomach injury suffered by Given was compared to the kind found on a car crash victim. Close, he crashed into Marlon Harewood...
One of the finest goalkeepers in recent English football history, Given has been dogged by injuries in recent seasons but continues to offer a reassuring presence between the posts at St James’ Park.
Signed by Celtic in his mid-teens, Given moved to Kenny Dalglish’s Blackburn in 1994. With Tim Flowers holding the first-team role, the Irish international attracted attention on loan at Sunderland by keeping 12 clean sheets in 17 games before moving to Newcastle in 1997.
At £1.5m, it was Dalglish’s first signing for the Magpies and proved a shrewd move for both club and player.
Given had been the one main constant at Newcastle over the last decade. After another controversial start to the 2008/20009 season, which saw King Kev resign, the fans wanting Mike Ashley out and the teams form been very inconsistent, Given could no longer take the situation on Tyneside.
The Irish goalkeeper was interested in a new challenge and received his wish when Man City signed Given for an undisclosed fee in the 2009 winter transfer window.