Villa keeper Given ready for Newcastle return

Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given is ready to face former club Newcastle United.

Three years after he walked away Given is determined to be the complete professional as Aston Villa aim to be only the third side to win there this season.

Given, 35, said: “It will feel a bit strange to go back there, no doubt about that.

“It’s probably a good thing that they have changed what used to be the home dressing room into the away one, so it will be a bit easier to go to the right door!

“It was a special time of my career and I have great memories, things like beating Barcelona in the Champions League. But you move on and it is about Aston Villa for me now, and we go up there to try to get three points.

“At one point I thought I might have been a Newcastle player for my whole career, but things change.”

At least Given won’t have the problem of deciding whether to celebrate scoring a goal in front of their old fans. But he smiles: “Who knows? What if I go up for a corner in the final minute?”