blog.great-save.com

By Danny Wright

Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given is staying at the club, according to interim manager Joe Kinnear.

The Irish stopper has been linked with a move to Tottenham, but Kinnear has warned Spurs manager Harry Redknapp that any offer would be a waste of time.

“I can save Harry the time and money and tell him not to bother even picking up the telephone, because there is no way Shay Given will be leaving this football club,” Kinnear said.

“We want to build up Newcastle United and get good players in, not good players out.”

The news will come as a blow to Redknapp, who is reportedly lining up a replacement for Heurelho Gomes, the haphazard Brazilian signed by former manager Jaunde Ramos.

Portsmouth’s David James was also in the frame for a switch to White Hart Lane, however he ruled out a reunion with his former manager earlier this week.

Kinnear added that Given would not move because Newcastle are a “bigger club” than Spurs, before lavishing praise on his fit-again keeper.

He added: “”Shay Given has a lot of presence. All great goalkeepers have it. He reminds me a lot of Pat Jennings, who I played in front of for most of my time at Spurs,”

“I have the utmost respect for Shay Given, as have most people in the game. He has vast experience and he is vital to us - and not only that, he is a decent fella.”