Captain vital to United - Given

Aug 26 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

SHAY Given knows it is vital Newcastle United persuade Michael Owen to sign a new contract after he revealed the club captain’s presence alone is enough to lift his team-mates.

Given was careful not to stray into boardroom politics as the negotiations between the club and the player reach a crucial juncture this week, but the Irishman was more than happy to underline the striker’s importance to Kevin Keegan’s side.

Owen and Keegan are yet to decide whether the England international should start against Coventry City in the Carling Cup tonight, but Newcastle’s goalkeeper appears to be more concerned about whether the club’s star player will still be around in the long term.

“In an ideal world we would all like his contract to be sorted out sooner rather than later,” said Given, whose penalty save against Bolton proved to be a turning point for the Magpies on their way to a 1-0 victory. “But it is his contract and it is nothing to do with me. It is between him and the club, but in an ideal world we would all like him to get it done.

“It gave us all a lift to know he was on the bench (against Bolton). He is a top-class player and you know what you are going to get. He grabs important goals and he has done that again against Bolton.

“He has got a presence about him. He is a world renowned centre forward and a world-renowned goal-scorer. When he leads out the team it sends a message to other teams. It tells them that we have some real quality in our side.

“He is not a ranter and raver in the dressing room, everyone knows that, but he doesn’t have to be. His presence is enough, and the aura that he carries with him.

“He has scored a lot past me over the years so I know what it is like to play against him. If you are playing against Michael Owen you know you are playing one of the best in the world. We have some other good players as well, but seeing Michael on that team sheet sends out a message. He is the most world renowned player we have at the club.”

Owen’s goal was the difference between a resolute Bolton and a lacklustre Newcastle last weekend, but Given still feels the early signs are encouraging this season despite the lack of depth to the squad.

The Magpies have taken four points from their first two games and will travel to Coventry today looking to maintain their momentum by avoiding another early cup exit.

Given said: “We said before the game that it was important to get the win and maintain the momentum we started last weekend against Manchester United. But is not that easy, especially against Bolton, because you know what you are going to get from them.

“They make it very difficult for you and it was a tough scrappy game. There was not a lot in it and we have played better and lost before.

“It was a tough start playing Man U and Arsenal in the first three games so it is good to have four points on the board at this stage.

“We have something to build on. It is a platform and we need to try to keep a run of not losing when we go down to Arsenal.”

Given has been learning Spanish for the last couple of years, extra-curricular activity which has proven extremely useful this season following the arrival of the Spanish-speaking Argentinian centre-back Fabricio Coloccini from Deportivo La Coruña.

The defender, unlike his compatriot Jonás Gutiérrez, hardly speaks a word of English, but Given has still been impressed with the ease with which he has slotted into the back four.

He explained: “Jonás’ English is good, but Fabricio’s is not great. Luckily my Spanish is not too bad. I can speak a little so that helps.

“They have both settled in well and they are both tough in the tackle.

“They are not flimsy in any way. They like to get stuck in as well and that is what the Premiership is all about sometimes. Especially when you play a team like Bolton. You have to get fired into them and that is what Fabricio did. He did not shirk away from it.”