NEWCASTLE goalkeeper Shay Given has been given permission to return to England whenever his pregnant wife enters labour - even if that is just ten minutes before the kick-off of tonight's UEFA Cup clash in Greece.

Given's wife, Jane, is due to give birth to the couple's first child next week, but her husband has been warned that she could start to feel contractions at any time.

The Republic of Ireland international spent yesterday warming up for this evening's Group Stage tie with Athenian outfit Panionios, but his mobile phone remained switched on at all times.

The same will apply today, with Given ready to dash for the first available plane if he receives a call from his partner.

Newcastle boss Graeme Souness understands the importance of tonight's second phase opener in the Nea Smyrni Stadium but, with young children of his own, the Scot is also aware that certain things must always come first.

"For me, the family is the most important thing in any man's life," said Souness, who watched his first-choice keeper make two more superb saves against Charlton at the weekend. "He will be allowed to do whatever he wants to do.

"I would not stand in the way of him being at the birth of his child because I've been there - not at the birth of his children mind you - and it's the greatest thing in this world. I would not want to deny him that.

"We have a contingency plan anyway, and that contingency plan is called Steven Harper. We also have Tony Caig here, so we're well covered."

Harper has played just 45 minutes of senior football this season - the second half of last month's 5-1 win over Israeli minnows Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin - and, while Souness is confident he is a more than able deputy, Given's absence would represent a major blow were he to be whisked away.

The Newcastle number one remains hopeful it will not come to that, despite admitting that he is starting to get jumpy every time his telephone rings.

The luck of draw has led to United being on their travels this week and, after spending most of the last seven days in Paris and Dublin with the Republic of Ireland, Given is looking forward to a more settled existence in the next fortnight.

"I've got no specific plans, although I know I'll be travelling back if anything was to happen," confirmed the 28-year-old, who has played in more European games than any other Newcastle player.

"Hopefully the baby will come next week when it's due, but the midwife said before I set off that it could happen at any time.

"I know I wouldn't want to miss it for the world. It's my first kid and it's an exciting time for both me and Jane.

"Even the gaffer said to me that it's a thing you'd never want to miss. It's one of those things that might only happen once in your lifetime and you want to be there.

"I have to admit that, when the draw happened, I was hoping the first game was going to be at home because that would have made things a little bit easier.

"I've been away a lot in the last month or so but, touch wood, things will stay the way they have so far. Hopefully it will come next week because, once we get this game out of the way, we're going to be around Newcastle for quite a while."

Given's domestic situation is just one more potential distraction in a fraught week for the Magpies, but the experienced stopper insists his mind will be on one thing and one thing only if he takes to the field tonight.

"I can shut it off," he said. "It's something that's going to change my life but, at the same time, I'm totally focused on what I need to do for my club.

"It was a similar situation when I was away with Ireland last week, but I was totally focused on the games. I'll look forward to another big event in my life at the final whistle."

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