TOON FEARS PLAY ON GIVEN'S MIND

The 32-year-old met up with his international team-mates on Saturday with the turmoil surrounding the Magpies both on and off the pitch still ongoing. Billionaire owner Mike Ashley is desperately trying to offload the club he bought for £134.4million 16 months ago.

"As a player, it is easy to turn around and say, 'I want to leave, I want to do this or that'. said Given. "But I would love to see Newcastle really turn the corner. Hopefully, this is as low as it's going to get and we will turn the corner"

He added: "I have been there a long time now and I would class it as my home. I have been there 11 and a half years or something, so it's a big part of my life.

"At times like this, it's difficult. Because I've been there so long, I feel a little bit how the fans feel. It's been so frustrating.

"I think someone was quoted as saying things can turn bad quickly, but they can turn really good quickly as well at Newcastle. It can go on a bit of a rollercoaster and hopefully that will be the case, and I would like to be part of that."