SHAY GIVEN will open contract talks with Newcastle United tomorrow, but has admitted extending his stay on Tyneside will be a decision made for football rather than financial reasons.

As well as looking for a deal that rewards his 8 years of excellent service, the goalkeeper wants to know all his professional dreams can be fulfilled at St James' Park.

Having been snapped up from Blackburn in May 1997, Given's contract is due to expire in 18 months and his agent, Michael Kennedy, is due to meet Freddy Shepherd tomorrow morning.

It will be the first round of negotiations between the two parties and, although the Irishman is disappointed it has reached this stage before talks over improved terms have come around, Given would love nothing more than to commit his future to Newcastle.

However, after seeing the side which regularly secured European football split up in the summer without the prospect of at least a UEFA Cup run this season, Given makes no secret of his desire to win something before he retires - even if that means leaving Newcastle.

"Michael is coming up and we will see how that goes. That's all I can tell you," said Given, who signed his current contract after the 2002 World Cup. "Hopefully something good will come from that but I don't know at the minute.

"In an ideal world I would like to stay; there's no reason why I would want to leave. But I don't want to finish my career without having won a trophy, I have said that all along and I haven't changed.

"It has be to right financially for my future and for my family. But there are football issues as well. I don't want to hang my gloves up and think about what could have been or what should have been.

"Newcastle are in my blood. I would love to have my best years here and I feel they are still ahead of me. I have given nearly nine years' service to the club and I don't want to leave."

Given is widely regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers in the Premiership after years of consistent performances, which have led to plenty of interest from top clubs, including Arsenal.

The 29-year-old revealed that during the summer, before manager Graeme Souness attracted the likes of Emre and Michael Owen to the club, he feared the worst.

But, despite hating to use the injury list as an excuse, Given believes the squad formed by Souness is now heading in the right direction - although he does feel more faces needed to be drafted in during the January transfer window.

"To be fair to the club, we have brought some players in this year and spent a lot of money. I can't have a go at the chairman for not backing the manager," he said.

"We didn't qualify for Europe and I was a bit concerned. We have spent a lot of money on players since, but the downside is that we haven't seen a lot of them. That's not ideal.

"I don't think the squad is big enough. People said we struggled last year because of the size of the squad. The chairman won't thank me for saying it but we do need to bring in a few more new players. I don't know what funds are available.

"It hurts me when we're languishing where we are. I'm at a club which should be challenging in the top three or four positions and in Europe every year."

Given's heroics week in and week out for the Magpies have arrived at a cost for one man in particular - his understudy Steve Harper.

Harper has made just 31 league appearances in 12 years at Newcastle and, approaching his 31st birthday in March, he has decided to seek a loan move to make a name for himself.

The Easington-born keeper is regarded as one of the finest English shot-stoppers around but has hardly been given the chance to shine because of Given's outstanding ability.

He said: "I asked Sir Bobby Robson if I could go on loan and I know a couple of clubs were interested. I think it would benefit Newcastle as well.

"With the Christmas period coming up it's highly unlikely. But it's something I'm going to review in the new year with the current manager.

"I want to play football where it matters. If that means going into the Championship then I would love to go on loan."

Despite Souness and Michael Owen's belief to the contrary earlier in the week, the £16m striker will still be missing when Arsenal visit the North-East tomorrow.

Owen has failed to recover from his groin problem and will be joined on the sidelines a number of key players - including Charles N'Zogbia, Stephen Carr, Steven Taylor and Emre.

* Newcastle goalkeepers Shay Given and Steve Harper were speaking after helping to launch the club's new e-learning game - Think Football.

It is an interactive game which has been designed by Indigo Multimedia in association with the club's Learning Centre and adidas.

It helps children improve literacy and numeracy skills, while managing their own Newcastle team.

Given said: "It's fantastic. It's a great game. It's good for helping their learning. The football element of it makes it fun.

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