THREE years after he left, Shay Given will finally return to St James’ Park for the first time as a player. Alan Pardew will be joining what seems certain to be a very warm reception tomorrow.
The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper made 462 Newcastle United appearances between 1997 and 2009.
Given was an unused substitute when Manchester City visited Tyneside on Boxing Day 2010 but, having rediscovered first-team football at Aston Villa, he seems certain to be playing in tomorrow’s 1.30pm kick-off.
It will be a chance to give due recognition to a player who impressed not only with his goalkeeping but his human qualities.
The current Newcastle manager. “I do not know Shay well but I met him last time we played them and he impressed me as a person.
“His record here was second to none. Our goalkeeper Tim Krul is doing brilliantly and if he can replicate what Shay did here he will have had a brilliant career.”
Charles N’Zogbia will also be back in the North East, but might not be afforded the same reception having acted with rather less dignity on Tyneside.
As a former Sunderland striker, Darren Bent is a guaranteed a hostile reception. “I like Darren,” said his former Charlton Athletic manager Pardew, who could find himself to be in a small minority tomorrow.
“He is a good pro and we have to be careful. We have worked out Villa are the fastest team on the break outside a couple of others, so we will have to be on our guard.
“We do not want to expose ourselves in terms of committing too many players forward.”
Bent divides opinion among fans, some feeling he is ‘carried’ at times, not contributing enough on top of his obvious goalscoring ability.
Pardew, though, countered: “No team carries Darren Bent. His link-up play maybe is not his number one asset but he can do it.
“You want him at the top of the pitch scoring goals, you do not want him linking play. I have no problem with the way he plays.”
Newcastle striker Leon Best was said to have been close to an 11th-hour move to Celtic on deadline day, but Pardew explained: “Celtic made an inquiry.
“I spoke to Neil Lennon, but it did not go further than that.”
