Soccer:Newcastle boss Chris Hughton has dismissed speculation that goalkeeper Shay Given could make an emotional return to St James' Park as cover for the injured Steve Harper.
The 34-year-old Republic of Ireland international has lost his Manchester City place to Joe Hart this season and is desperate for regular football. However, despite seeing 35-year-old Harper, the man who for so long acted as back-up to the Irishman during his 11-and-a-half-year stay on Tyneside, suffer a nasty shoulder injury at Everton on Saturday, Hughton will not be contacting City counterpart Roberto Mancini.
“I can understand that one and it is a very emotional one as well, but no, I can categorically say that won’t be happening,” said the former Ireland defender.
Given left Newcastle in the wake of a humiliating 5-1 home defeat by Liverpool in December 2008, making it clear he wanted to play his football elsewhere and eventually got his wish when City pushed through an €10 million move for him at the end of the following month.
Given could be brought in from the cold for Manchester City’s Carling Cup trip to West Brom on Wednesday with boss Roberto Mancini preparing to ring the changes.
Mancini indicated in the wake of City’s 2-0 win at Wigan yesterday that he would be prepared to let Given leave in January, with Hart having nailed down the number one spot.
And, although he would not be drawn on Given’s possible participation at The Hawthorns, Mancini stressed the importance of rotating his squad as injuries and a heavy fixture schedule begin to take their toll.
Emmanuel Adebayor, Jerome Boateng and Roque Santa Cruz all missed the trip to the DW Stadium and Mancini insisted: “Every game is important for us this season and it is important the players understand the situation.
“We can’t leave one competition. We must play at 100 pec cent in every competition and that means in the Carling Cup we must change some players — because we can’t play every two days.”
Mancini denied suggestions that Given’s freshly-stated desire to leave Eastlands stemmed from last Thursday’s Europa League trip to Salzburg, when the keeper was under the impression he would play.
“I never said to Shay that he would play on Thursday,” added Mancini. “The goalkeeper is a particular situation because I cannot play two of them. At the moment Joe Hart is playing so Shay must stay on the bench.”