McCarthy's men abroad

Funny old game, all the same. Only a few months ago Shay Given, having lost his place in both the Irish and Newcastle teams, must have been wondering where it had all gone wrong, after such a promising start to his career. Now? Back on track. On Saturday, against Chelsea, he kept his third successive clean sheet for Newcastle, prompting Bobby Robson to declare that he was "among the five best goalkeepers in English football". Robson is confident Given will sign a new contract at the club, Celtic's Martin O'Neill, by all accounts, hopes he won't ("I have made no bid for Shay Given . . . yet").