Frank Clark Next Target For Shay!
By Nu Mad
Updated Tuesday, 4th November 2008
Shay Given made his 450th appearance for Newcastle last night in the 2-0 win over Aston Villa.
The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper made another step towards breaking the club's all-time appearance record, and now has Frank Clark in his sights.
Just like his old Newcastle team-mate Alan Shearer, he plans to start rewriting the history books and cementing his place in local folklore.
The £1.5 million paid to Blackburn for Given, 32, has to be the shrewdest bit of business since Kevin Keegan made Rob Lee "my greatest pound-for-pound signing" at £700,000.
Given, who was brought to Tyneside by Kenny Dalglish in 1997, has been Newcastle supporter's "No 1" in their All-time Newcastle XI team for years.
Not that he has had much competition in 50 years of Toon history, with Iam McFaul and Pavel Srnicek the only goalkeepers of international quality.
Given is only the fourth player in the club's history to break the 450-barrier and he is closing in on Frank Clark (457), Frank Hudspeth (472) and Jimmy Lawrence (496).
