SHAY Given has committed the rest of his career to Newcastle by signing a new five-year contract that will keep him at St James' Park until 2011.

The 30-year-old, who was named in the Premiership's team of the season after a string of impressive displays last term, put pen to paper on his new deal yesterday, ending weeks of speculation suggesting he was considering calling an end to his nine-year stay on Tyneside.

Given has made 380 appearances for Newcastle since making a £1.5m move from Blackburn in May 1997.

In that time, he has established himself as one of the most reliable shot-stoppers in the Premiership, attracting interest from Manchester United and Arsenal in the process.

He had spoken of leaving Tyneside if Newcastle were unable to match his ambitions, a threat that assumed greater significance when the club's 36-year trophy drought was extended last season.

But, after captaining Glenn Roeder's side in the final three games of the campaign, Given has committed his long-term future to the club.

The goalkeeper will be 35 by the time his new deal draws to a close, meaning the best years of his life will have been devoted to the Magpies.

"I'm delighted to get my new contract sorted," said the Republic of Ireland international, who could yet beat Jimmy Lawrence's all-time record of 496 appearances for the club.

"I'd like to thank the chairman and the board for what they've done and also all the fans for the support they've given me since I joined Newcastle United.

"I've already had nine great years here and I'm now looking forward to five more. Hopefully, we can win something in that time because I'm still very hungry to win things as a Newcastle player.

"I've said before that I feel like an adopted Geordie now. The fans here are second to none and St James' Park is a fantastic place to play football."

Freddy Shepherd made no secret of his desire to secure Given's services and, after the Premier League gave Roeder special dispensation to become permanent manager this week, yesterday's events marked a second notable success for the Newcastle chairman.

Given is widely viewed as Alan Shearer's natural successor in terms of his popularity among the Magpies' faithful, a fact that was underlined by the rapturous reception he received in the wake of last weekend's 1-0 win over Chelsea.

"Getting the deal done with Shay is a great way to start the summer," said Shepherd.

"When the team walked around the pitch on Sunday you could hear the fans singing his name - Shay calls himself an adopted Geordie and our fans love him. He's only missed two Premiership matches in the last five seasons and we wouldn't swap him for anyone."