Given at Magpies 'for life'
Given is Newcastle's longest-serving current player
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Monday, 16, Jul 2007 11:51
Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given has said he wants to remain at the club for the remainder of his career.
The Republic of Ireland stopper, who joined the club in 1997 aged 21, has been a mainstay of the Magpies defence since early on in his St James' Park career and hinted that he may never leave Tyneside.
His existing deal at the club expires in the summer of 2011, but with over a decade of experience at the club already under his belt he has said he wants to continue beyond the next four years.
"I've got four years left on my contract and I will definitely be here for them and hopefully a few more beyond that, but we'll have to see how my body holds up before I start thinking about another ten," Given told the club's own TV channel.
"When I signed I knew I was coming to a huge football club.
"It's a special place to play football what with the fans and the stadium, and hopefully we'll be able to win something while I'm here because you can just imagine what the place would be like."
Given is only 83 games short of former goalkeeping great Jimmy Lawrence's club record of 496 appearances and said it would be "marvellous" to be the one to pass that milestone.
"I want to play as many games as possible for my club and country but you can't look too far ahead, just look at last season with my injuries," he continued.
"But I'm feeling good at the moment and we'll just have to see how things work out."