Given insists he will stay top Prem. Keeper


By Matthew Jones
August 23 2002

Shay Given has at long last regained his confidence after going through a spell when his distribution ruined his game. But he knew his weakness, and no player has worked harder to overcome an Achilles Heel. Shay Given has at long last regained his confidence after going through a spell when his distribution ruined his game. But he knew his weakness, and no player has worked harder to overcome an Achilles Heel.



"My plan for the next few months is to become an even better player and I am only interested in improving on last season. "People might say I can't top last season with Newcastle and the Republic but why not?

"I want to get better and better every year and the fact that we finished fourth and I went to the World Cup makes no difference whatsoever. I have all sorts of things I can improve and I won't be standing still.

"After last season I suppose I'm there to be shot at but that's a nice position to be in. The goalkeeping spot is probably the worst position on the pitch for being under the spotlight and I should know.

"If you do make a mistake it's highlighted hundreds of times and there's nothing you can do about it. It's not really fair but that's the way some people judge a keeper. All I can do is keep the mistakes to a minimum."

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