The Newcastle United Blog

The Newcastle manager now believes Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given is completely over all his groin troubles.

Shay Given - completely over his groin problems

And it appears that Shay too thinks his injury problems are now behind him.

Shay was badly injured in September 2006 when West Ham striker Marlon Harewood collided with him at Upton Park, leaving Shay with a badly perforated bowel.

That he is now fit doesn’t surprise us too much, because the operation he had in March was carried out by Dr Ulrike Muschaweck, at her clinic in Munichbegan, Germany.

She has an almost 100% success record, and has also worked on Alan Shearer and Michael Owen, and what she says seems to comes true.

And Dr Muschaweck told Shay after the operation he would have no more problems with his groin, and it certainly seems to be coming true – fingers crossed.

Given did cause some concern at Hartlepool however, when he missed some training after playing for Newcastle in the first 60 minutes in the first pre-season game.

Apparently he experienced some soreness in his thigh after the game, but he seems OK  now, and was back on board with the Newcastle squad who flew into Palma airport last night, for the Mallorca Summer Cup.

Keegan talked to the Evening Chronicle today about Shay:

“Shay is here with us in Majorca with the intention of possibly playing in the second game once we’ve done a little bit of work.”

“He’s had a slight pull, but it’s in a different place. It’s down in his thigh.”

Given and Harper will fight it out for the first team jersey this season, but Steve also let his pal know he wouldn’t be giving up the jersey easily, with just a phenomenal save at Doncaster, in the first half last Saturday.

When you add 20 year old youngsters Dutchman Tim Krul and Fraser Forster to the two goalkeeping elders, and then include 18 year-old Swedish star Ole Soderberg, we must have the strongest goalkeeping contingent on Tyneside for many a year.

Comments welcome.