SHAY Given was once known as 'Lazarus' because of his incredible powers of recovery, but after the latest in a long line of groin injuries to have plagued him this season, the Newcastle goalkeeper has admitted that 'Sicknote' is now a more appropriate nickname.

Given will be absent when the Magpies travel to Liverpool on Saturday, just as he was forced to sit out last weekend's 1-0 defeat to Blackburn, and after previously setting a record for consecutive Premier League starts, the Irishman has failed to finish 11 league games this season.

He missed six matches in August and September and two more games in mid-November, and all eight absences were the result of an ongoing groin problem that reappeared at the end of last month.

The problem began when Given perforated his bowel in an horrific incident at West Ham in September 2006, and the 31-year-old admits his chequered appearance record in the subsequent 18 months is a considerable cause for concern.

"The 'Lazarus' nickname has gone out of the window," said Given. "And they'll be calling me 'Sicknote' next! I don't think I was injured for ten-or-so years, definitely not with my groin. But the last year-or-so has been different.

"I'd had knocks and bruises and stuff, but the challenge at West Ham broke through my bowel and I've had several groin tears and niggles since that.

"We don't know if this one's definitely linked, but it wouldn't take a rocket scientist to work out there has probably been some harm done that needs more strength work on both my groins and abdominals to restrict these frustrating strains."

Given was at St James' Park on Monday night to take part in a charity fashion show for Macmillan Cancer Support. The Republic of Ireland international became the charity's North-East patron after his mother died of cancer, and he has subsequently devoted a great deal of time to supporting the charity's fund-raising drive.

He jetted out of Newcastle yesterday, though, to visit a groin specialist in Belgium, having already consulted a groin expert in England at the end of last week.

"I've seen one specialist already, and he advised that I saw another one this week," said Given. "We'll make a decision on what happens next after that I suppose.

"I've been doing strength work in the gym, and it's been pretty good. I have to keep building up to get back as quickly as possible, but I can't really tell you when that will be."

If Given's Belgian specialist advises surgery, the goalkeeper will not return until the start of next season.

Having made two abortive comebacks against Aston Villa and Manchester United, it now appears that an operation is the most likely course of action, although Given remains hopeful that he will play again this term.

"Am I worried that my season might be over? No, no, I'm quietly confident it'll be a good bit before then," he said.

"If I need an operation, maybe that might be me out until the end of the season. But I don't think that will be the case. I'm hoping to be back sooner rather than later."

Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan could certainly do with a fully-fit Given back in his side, even if the Irishman's deputy, Steve Harper, remains one of the most capable number twos in the country.

Harper will be between the sticks as Keegan looks to engineer the first victory of his second spell as Magpies manager at the weekend, and Senegalese centre-half Lamine Diatta could also be available for Saturday's trip to Anfield after undergoing a medical on Tyneside yesterday.

Diatta, who became a free agent when he bought out the remainder of his contract with Turkish side Besiktas in January, spent the second half of last week on trial at Newcastle's Longbenton training ground.

The 32-year-old, who is an international team-mate of Habib Beye and Abdoulaye Faye and who also played alongside Claudio Cacapa at Lyon, has done enough to earn a short-term contract with the Magpies.

He underwent a medical yesterday and is expected to sign until the end of the season this morning, provided there are no problems with the results of his tests.

Diatta began his career with French club Toulouse in 1998, and played for Marseille, Rennes, Lyon and St Etienne before joining Besiktas in 2007.

Worryingly, given the identity of Saturday's opponents, his last appearance on English soil came in Besiktas' 8-0 defeat to Liverpool last November.

Former Newcastle full-back Celestine Babayaro has been released by Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy after just one game.

The Nigerian conceded a penalty on his Galaxy debut against South Korean side Seoul last weekend, as has been told to seek alternative employment ahead of the start of the MLS season next month.