SHAY Given has predicted a summer of upheaval at St James' Park, but the sought-after shot-stopper insists he will be going nowhere in the close season.

Given has been one of the few success stories in a calamitous campaign that has seen Newcastle lurch from one crisis to the next.

Wednesday night's 2-1 defeat at basement boys Norwich left the Magpies 14th in the Premiership and, with Sunday's trip to Manchester United kicking off a run-in that also includes a home game with champions-elect Chelsea, things could get even worse before the curtain falls.

The end of the season will also mark the end of the line for a number of Newcastle players, with Graeme Souness clearing the decks in order to bring in at least half a dozen new signings.

Given is one of the few players already attracting suitors, with Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham paying special attention to his situation at St James'.

But, while the Republic of Ireland international has never hidden his desire to win trophies before he retires, he is not about to walk out on the Magpies after eight years' service.

"I fully expect to still be a Newcastle player next season," said Given, who became the first player to play 50 European games for the club earlier this year. "I have got two years left on my contract and I want to be here for at least that length of time.

"It looks as though there are going to be some major changes in the summer.

"I have not got a clue who we are going to buy, but I think the areas we need to strengthen are obvious.

"The manager already has an idea of the players he wants to bring in and I want to be a part of what he is trying to do.

"He will bring some new faces in and I am looking forward to joining up with them when we return for pre-season training.

"I suppose I anticipate a summer of speculation linking me with moves away, but I don't see it as anything more than paper talk.

"Unless somebody tells me otherwise, I will be a Newcastle player next season."

Given was beaten twice on Wednesday as Newcastle suffered their 12th league defeat of the season but, while he possibly should have done better with Youssef Safri's outrageous 35-yard strike, he could do little about Dean Ashton's stoppage-time winner.

The Norwich striker stole in ahead of Stephen Carr as United went to sleep but, while defensive deficiencies were again at the fore, the result might have been different had Alan Shearer and Shola Ameobi not suffered rare off days at the other end.

"If we had taken some of our chances it would have been different," said Given.

"But, when you don't take your chances, you are always going to be vulnerable, especially away from home. Our away form hasn't been good enough again this season.

"We are in a sticky patch. The squad is down to the bare bones, but we can't use that as an excuse.

"If you look at the side we put out against Norwich, it was still good enough to win the game. We are not getting much luck either but, again, we can't keep going on about that."

Things are not likely to get much better this weekend.

Newcastle travel to Old Trafford just seven days after Manchester United put four past them en route to the FA Cup final.

As if that wasn't bad enough, Sir Alex Ferguson's side are also smarting after Wednesday night's 1-0 reverse at Everton in which both Gary Neville and Paul Scholes saw red.

Given spoke candidly about Manchester United's strength at the Millennium Stadium, but the goalkeeper is confident his side will respond in the right manner on Sunday.

"There are not many better places to play football than Old Trafford," he said. "We shouldn't need any incentive to go there and try to turn things around."

* Craig Bellamy has banned his agent, Steve Horner, from even mentioning his future while Celtic chase a league and cup double.

The outspoken Welshman has scored eight goals in 11 games since leaving Newcastle, and Celtic's board are coming under pressure from Martin O'Neill and the club's fans to make his deal permanent.

But Bellamy, who is expected to command a transfer fee of at least £5m, is refusing to even contemplate his future until the end of the current campaign.

"I haven't thought about anything else and I don't want to," said the striker. "That's not the way I work and I could do without that little sidetrack.

"I have spoken to my agent but he won't dare say a word to me because he knows the phone call will last a few seconds.

"All I want is to win these two trophies and I'll wait until I go on holiday before seeing what's happening.

"I came up here to enjoy my football and winning the two trophies are the only thing on my mind.

"I am enjoying my football and my life in Scotland and it has been a really brilliant experience.

"I've enjoyed the little things like travelling with this group to places like Livingston or Inverness on a Tuesday.

"People thought I wouldn't like it and I never thought I'd be saying this. But I have enjoyed every minute of it."

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