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Given pledges future to Magpies

24/06/2008

Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given has pledged his future to the club, saying he is "very settled in the north-east".

The 32-year-old has been linked with a move to the Magpies' Premier League rivals Arsenal this summer as competition for Manuel Almunia, following veteran stopper Jens Lehmann's exit.

However, Irish international Given has declared his desire to stay at St James' Park as he is comfortable with the team who he has spent the last ten seasons with.

"I have three years left on my contract and I am very settled in the north-east," Given told the Mirror newspaper.

"I see myself staying at Newcastle for the rest of my career."

Given missed the second half of last season because of injury but he is confident he will be fully fit by the start of the new Premier League season.

"I've been keeping fit and training hard since my groin operation and in a couple of weeks I'll be able to join up with Newcastle again for the start of preseason," he continued.

"I've been with Newcastle since 1997 and I'll soon be getting a Geordie twang.

"It's a great football club with fantastic fans, so I have no reason to leave."