WITH a European spot safely secured following Sunday's win over Chelsea, Newcastle are set to receive their second major boost of the week when Shay Given signs a new contract.

After yet another impressive season between the sticks, the Republic of Ireland international is expected to scoop the Magpies' Player of the Season award when it is handed out this month.

The goalkeeper's eye-catching form has been a major factor in Newcastle's late-season surge into an Intertoto Cup spot and, unsurprisingly, he has again been attracting the attention of some of the Premiership's leading lights.

With Given's contract due to expire at the end of next season, the board have been keen to prevent one of their most important players moving elsewhere.

With talks having progressed to an advanced stage, the 30-year-old is ready to put pen to paper on a new long-term deal before leaving for international duty at the start of next week.

"I certainly hope my future's here," said Given, who has played in every single game of this season apart from the opening Intertoto Cup fixture against Dubnica back in last July. "We're in advanced talks about my contract at the minute, so I'm hoping to get that sorted sooner rather than later.

"You saw the interaction with the fans (after Sunday's win over Chelsea) - I think they want me to stay as well, so I'm hoping to get that sorted.

"We're quite close at the moment, so I'm hoping to get it done and dusted as quickly as possible."

With Alan Shearer having retired, Given is now the longest-serving first-team regular.

The Irishman joined from Blackburn in May 1997 for a cut-price £1.5m, a fee he has repaid many times over.

His seniority led to Glenn Roeder handing him the captain's armband when Shearer was ruled out of the final three games of this campaign but, while he has been honoured to lead Newcastle into action, the shot-stopper does not expect to retain the captaincy.

Scott Parker is gradually regaining his fitness following a bout of glandular fever, and Given insists the central midfielder is the perfect person to succeed Shearer.

"I don't think I'll be captain next season," he said. "For the last three games, I've been very proud to lead the team out and, if I'm never captain again, I can always say that I went unbeaten. Nobody can take that away from me.

"I'm obviously very happy, but I think it will probably be Scotty Parker next season because he was captain when we were both in the team and Alan was out."

Given has repeatedly challenged his team-mates to achieve more during his nine seasons on Tyneside, even going as far as to claim he would consider walking away if the Magpies were not repeatedly challenging for domestic honours and European places.

Three months ago, relegation looked more likely than continental competition, but ten wins in the final 15 league games have salvaged an Intertoto Cup spot from the wreckage of a season that was spiralling out of control when Graeme Souness was dismissed.

Intertoto Cup action does not come without a price - Newcastle's players are expected to report for pre-season training on June 21, 24 hours after England play their final group game in the World Cup. But with a European double-header to look forward to in July, Given insists the sacrifice is worth it.

IBK Keflavik of Iceland will play Dungannon Swifts of Northern Ireland to decide who meets Lillestrom of Norway in the next round. The winners of that tie will take on the Magpies on July 15/16 and 22 for the right to take a place in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup.

"This is one summer when we won't mind coming back early," said Given. "I know I certainly don't mind at all.

"I've got an international on May 24 and hope to have four or five weeks off after that. That's plenty.

"It's fantastic to be playing in the Intertoto Cup. People say it's a rubbish tournament, but you only have to play two games - normally it's six - and then you're in the second round of the UEFA Cup."

Meanwhile, Alan Shearer has called on the Premier League's chairmen to ratify Roeder's installation as Newcastle's next permanent boss.

The current caretaker is barred from taking control of the Magpies next season because he lacks the UEFA 'Pro Licence'.

"I hope Glenn gets it because he deserves it," said Newcastle's record scorer. "When he took over in February we were looking at the other end of the table.

"Glenn has worked so hard to get the club into Europe. He obviously wants a shot at it now, he has the bug and that winning feeling.

"Glenn has asked if I want to be the manager (on Thursday) but I want it to be as normal as possible. I will be in the dug-out but I want him involved because of the job he has done here. He deserves that."

* The Football Association's disciplinary committee will meet today to hear Stephen Carr's appeal against his dismissal in the final game. Referee Mike Riley showed the full-back a red card after he appeared to stamp on Chelsea's Lassana Diarra.

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