Shay's Given the job as skipper
-
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. -
Looks certain only.
However, i'd like to see him as Newcastle skipper. They can consider Carr as well. 
Cheers.
CK -
nice title. lol.
anyway, he deserves it.