Shay Given
Steve McClaren is having a goalkeeping crisis at the moment with his first and second choice keepers currently out of action.
Tim Krul picked up a devastating knee injury whilst playing against Kazakhstan on international duty with Holland last month, which sees him out for the rest of the season, and Karl Darlow is also out with a foot injury.
Third choice keeper Rob Elliot has been at the helm, but would a return from Newcastle legend Shay Given be the perfect back-up support that they need?
And it is not a crazy idea – it seems the fans have wanted him back before. It was around this time last year that Alan Pardew was facing the same crisis. With Tim Krul and Rob Elliot out with injuries, an inexperienced 17-year-old Freddie Woodman being their only option and along with a crucial Sunderland derby coming up, panicked fans took to social media to bombard Given with requests to help his former club.
The Republic of Ireland International was at Newcastle for 12 seasons, from 1997-2009 and made 354 league appearances and 462 appearance across all competitions.
Would the experienced goal-stopper be welcomed back to St James’s Park in their time of need? The Tavern punters think so.
About the Author
There is a picture of Steve Harper on the shay given page?