Former Manchester City keeper Shay Given is delighted his former club are poised to claim the Premiership title. Given, who is now with Aston Villa, told BBC Radio Five Live: "It's fantastic for the Premier League if, please God, Manchester City do win it, because Man United have won it enough times.

"I've got lots of friends at Manchester City and it would be fantastic if they could pick the trophy up, but they have got a tough game at my old club Newcastle at the weekend. I think they're in the driving seat and hopefully they can get across the line."

Asked whether City, owned by the hugely wealthy Sheikh Mansour, could be accused of buying success, Given added: "I don't think so. Years ago I was at Blackburn and Jack Walker had a lot of money and he invested in the team and Blackburn Rovers won the league, and I think if you look at the recent success of Chelsea and Manchester United they have had lots of investment in the team too.

"It's just that Manchester City have done it over a shorter period than the bigger clubs. But it's part and parcel of modern-day football."

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