GLENN Roeder is expected to outline his summer spending plans when he is officially installed as Newcastle boss later today, but departing skipper Alan Shearer has claimed the former caretaker has already made his biggest summer signing when Shay Given penned a new five-year deal.

Given, who took over the captain's armband when Shearer was injured for the final three games of last season, committed himself to St James' Park last week.

And, while the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Jermain Defoe continue to be considered as long-term replacements for Shearer, Newcastle's record scorer insists tying down Given will eclipse anything else that happens on Tyneside this summer.

"Shay is the best in the Premier League, " he said. "You might say that I'm biased but I don't think I am.

"I was with him at Blackburn from an early age and I have played with him for I don't know how many years now.

"He just seems to get better with every season and has been an outstanding player for this club for some time. He has been our outstanding player this season for consistency and for some of the saves he has made to keep us in games."

To date, Given has made 380 appearances for the Magpies and, provided he steers clear of serious injury in the next five years, the affable Irishman seems certain to beat Jimmy Lawrence's all-time record of 496 senior games.

His standards show no sign of slipping and, while his on-field displays continue to hit the heights, Shearer claims the 30-year-old's training ground efforts are every bit as impressive.

"People don't see the work Shay puts in on the training ground, " he claimed. "You get out of the game what you put in. With that being the case, he will just keep on getting better and better.

"He has worked so hard to get where he is and is a great lad as well. He is good to have in the dressing room, and all the lads really respect him."

Titus Bramble could be the next player to sign a new contract, with chairman Freddy Shepherd expected to open talks with the centre-half 's representatives after this summer's World Cup.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough defender Ugo Ehiogu is expected to leave the Riverside this summer, with former club West Brom hoping to resurrect the transfer talks that collapsed in January.

Ehiogu, who provided valuable cover to Gareth Southgate and Chris Riggott in the second half of last season, had been expected to complete a return to the Hawthorns before contract discussions collapsed when the two parties were unable to agree personal terms.

The Baggies have subsequently slipped out of the Premiership but, with a host of players expected to leave this summer, boss Bryan Robson is hoping to add some defensive experience as he attempts to plot a course out of the Championship.

Ehiogu is currently at the top of his list, although the 33-year-old would have to accept a considerable wage cut before he rejoined his former employers.

"I've got another season and I'm guessing everyone will sit down once the dust has settled and see where everybody stands, " said Ehiogu.

"It's been an amazing season in some parts and a very frustrating and disappointing season this second half of it.

"I'm not going to want to endure that again so it's one of those things where we all sit down, have a look at it and see where we go."

Ehiogu remains an unlikely presence at the start of pre-season training, but Boro officials remain confident Franck Queudrue will be available in early July despite being booked in for minor cartilage surgery later this week.

Emanuel Pogatetz is also expected to be fit for the start of pre-season after training with the rest of the Boro squad on the eve of last week's final, but Spaniard Gaizka Mendieta could take slightly longer to recover from his broken foot.