FRESH from becoming only the ninth player in Newcastle
United's history to play 400 first-team games Irish goalkeeper Shay
Given looks certain to be named as the Magpies new
captain.
The Donegal man who is Irish vice-captain has been named as one of
the front runners to captain the St. James' Park club by new
manager Sam Allardyce.
Scott Parker was Newcastle captain last season but the midfielder
was injured for large parts of the campaign and Given regularly
captained Newcastle in the midfielder's absence.
Allardyce said this week that while no final decision had been made
as to who would be captain next season Given was among the leading
contenders.
He said: "We need a new captain and Shay has the experience but
sometimes there is an emphasis on having an outfield player as
skipper - but I have made no decision yet.
"In fact I believe good captains are becoming a rare breed now.
Natural leaders both on and off the field are not easy to
find."
Parker recently departed the North East Club for West Ham United
leaving Given in pole position to take over as captain of the club
where he has become a firm favourite with the fans since arriving
on Tyneside eight years ago.
Other players in contention to get the captain's armband include
striker Michael Owen and former Manchester United midfielder Nicky
Butt though Given - who is already the club's deputy captain - is
the emphatic choice of the Toon Army.
Shay was seen as a leading contender to succeed Kenny Cunningham as
Irish captain but Steve Staunton chose Robbie Keane instead on the
basis that the striker is an outfield player.
Meanwhile one Irish international who looks set to leave Newcastle
United is Alan O'Brien.
The four-time capped Irish international is expected to join
Hibernian in the SPL later this week after failing to become a
regular at St. James' Park where he was competing for a starting
place with his international colleague Damien Duff.
