SHAY Given has pledged to put Sunday's double disappointment behind him as Newcastle look to take a giant stride towards the UEFA Cup's knockout stage tonight.

The Magpies will be hoping to bounce back from Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Bolton, a result that ended their ten-game unbeaten run and handed Graeme Souness his first set-back as United boss.

Given, in particular, has a point to prove, after his two uncharacteristic errors enabled El-Hadji Diouf and Kevin Davies to find the net last weekend.

The Republic of Ireland international is not certain to start against Georgian champions Dinamo Tbilisi, with Souness keen to keep Steve Harper on his toes and Given's wife, Jane, still on the brink of giving birth to the couple's first child.

But, if he retains the goalkeeping jersey this evening, Given is confident he will be strong enough to put his weekend mistakes to the back of his mind.

"You've got to bounce back," said the 28-year-old, who will be making a club record 43rd European appearance if he lines up against Dinamo. "You've got to focus on what you're doing and concentrate on the next game.

"The problem with being a goalkeeper is that you make a mistake or a wrong decision and, nine times out of ten, it leads to a goal.

"It gets highlighted so you see it over and over again, but goalkeepers have broad shoulders and we've got to learn to be like that.

"If a midfielder or a striker makes a mistake, there's somebody there to bail them out.

"But, as a keeper, you're the last line of defence and you either keep it out or you don't. You've got to be mentally strong and not let it get to you."

Newcastle have been in fine form under Souness but, despite their success, the Magpies have failed to keep a Premiership clean sheet since Sir Bobby Robson left two months ago.

Their last shut-out came in Athens last month as their UEFA Cup Group D campaign got off to the perfect start with a 1-0 win over Greek minnows Panionios.

Given accepts that United's backline are still making too many mistakes, but insists his team-mates must not sacrifice their attacking instincts in search of defensive improvements.

"We haven't kept enough clean sheets this season," he admitted.

"We were disappointed to concede two goals on Sunday and I was disappointed personally because they were two bad goals to give away.

"But we move on and we've got to look to the next game. We are a team that like to get forward and sometimes that leaves us a bit exposed. That's the way we play, though, and we've got to live with that."

While Given could give way as Souness shuffles his pack, the absence of the suspended Nicky Butt means that James Milner could come in for only his third start under the Scotsman.

The teenage midfielder has yet to start a league game under Souness but, after lining up on the right of midfield in Athens, the UEFA Cup is offering him a chance to impress his new boss.

After making a £3.5m move from Leeds in the summer, Milner was expected to make his mark on the Premiership this season.

Instead, other youngsters have hogged the headlines, although the level-headed 18-year-old hopes to match their impact in the rest of the campaign.

"The likes of Wayne Rooney, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Stewart Downing are all doing very well this season," said Milner. "And I suppose it is important that I keep pace with them.

"Shaun is an unbelievable player and has been for the last few seasons. He's shown it can be done at the highest level and so have the others.

"If I can follow in their footsteps on the Premiership stage, there's no reason why I can't reach the level they are at.

"I want to be involved in all the games - league or cup - but it doesn't harm my chances when we're playing on four fronts.

"A few of the lads who've been playing in the cup games do have a point to prove, but our will to win isn't any greater than normal."

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