Although the news are saying Given’s lawyer Michael Kennedy has took the unusual step of issuing a statement on his client’s behalf, Joe Kinnear was refusing last night that Shay Given wants to leave Tyneside.

Times reporting about Kinnear claimed that Given had told him yesterday morning that he wanted to remain at Newcastle and accused Kennedy of releasing the statement without his client’s approval. Kinnear also said that he and Given has been discussed the future over a cup of coffee at Newcastle’s training ground yesterday morning.

Also from the Times online, Kinnear said: “We actually rung the guy who made the statement and asked him why he put it out. He said he was aware that these clubs were interested in Shay. He told me that is what he read in the papers and he acted accordingly.”

Acted accordingly? I think that Kennedy ‘acted accordingly’ was because there were potentially big cash on his pocket if Shay is actually leaving Tyneside to any of three clubs that are said to be interested on him.

Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham are those three clubs that being linked with Shay if he does leave. But, Arsene Wenger has said he’s not going to buy a new goalkeeper on January transfer window.

Meanwhile, United will travel to Hull City for today’s FA Cup Third Round clash with a good record at third stage of the competition during Newcastle’s Premier League years. The Magpies have only lost just one Third Round tie since returning to the top flight in 1993.

After Sunday’s 5-1 Barclays Premier League defeat by Liverpool, the club’s injury list has reached double figures and Joe admits that it’s been more or less a case of cancelling training and wrapping all of his players, and see if he can get 11 players to be fit for Hull’s match this weekend.

The only good news that Joe can cheers about is the French defender Sebastien Bassong will return from a one-match ban. Jose Enrique, Nicky Butt and Shola Ameobi all will have late fitness tests.

But Habib Beye will be sidelined for up to two months with a knee problem. Mark Viduka, Obafemi Martins, Claudio Cacapa and Joey Barton are among them who has a long-term injuries.

The Toon boss, on his New Year’s message said that he is keen to take Newcastle United to climb the Premier League table in 2009.

He feels that Newcastle side is still good enough to achieve a respectable position in the second period of the campaign despite all the lengthy injury list.

“I’m proud of what we have achieved so far, and I feel we can build on it.” He said, as quoted from the Chronicle, “I am only looking ahead and only look upwards, and I think we can get a respectable finish because this division is just so close.”

Meanwhile, Shay Given has insisted he is not going to leave the St James’s Park after serving the Toon for as long as 12 seasons. Shay is contracted with Newcastle until 2011.

According to a source close to the 32-year-old goalkeper, who told the Chronicle, Shay always given his all for Newcastle United, and that will never change.

Being frustrated at how things had gone on the pitch against Liverpool was the reason why he left the field so quickly, but to say he’s unhappy at Newcastle is 100 % wrong.

Another report suggesting that Inter Milan’s coach Jose Mourinho could make a move for the Magpies’ skipper and was offering one of his players in a swap deal. Owen is now free to talk to other clubs, but insisted he wants to wait until the end of this season before making it clear about his future at Tyneside.

Despite making better use of our chances we still conceded possession too easily in that 1st half, when I thought we struggled in midfield.

However, we stuck at it, and getting the 1st goal changed the game in much the same way it did in the home game vs Villa – our confidence visibly soared, we got a grip in midfield and ended the game well on top.

As for Enrique, I thought he was poor to start with, but improved as the game proceeded and he had a really good 2nd half.

Apart from one howler when he passed the ball straight to an opponent well inside our half, I thought Coloccini had a much better game today. N’Zogbia had a very quiet 1st half, but looked more like his old self in the 2nd when he started running at his full-back.

I thought our defence looked well organised, and the problems we did have generally arose from losing possession in bad areas. Bassong had another good game; his uncomplicated style and aerial ability compliments Colloccini’s game very well.

Owen worked his nuts off and took his goal superbly, not to say very bravely as he really got clattered. The Sky geniuses blamed Calamity for Martins’ goal, whereas the ‘slo-mo’ showed he actually dummied James into going to ground before side-footing it past him.

What’s more his 25 yard swinging scorcher in the 1st half that struck the inside of James’ left hand post would have been a candidate for Goal of the Season. I can see some signs that under JFK’s direction Oba is beginning to become a better team player. Let’s just hope he hasn’t incurred a serious injury.

Our first away win, and a very solid team performance against a big, physical team that are usually a handful on their own ground will hopefully provide a turning point in this dreadful season.

Seeing a much stronger team and bench than had been reported only yesterday, also provides a degree of comfort. What’s more Xisco is fit again!

But today everyone is having their performance back, and hope JFK can keep the growing-up confidence from the Lads for good. Our “Houdini” has done his magic once again, and everyone seems to be happier than before.

Huge credits given to our two goals scorer Obafemi Martins who really showing what he can do when he’s fit. After scoring against WBA last week, he does it again twice today and made it three goals in the last two games.

“He’s a big player, there’s no doubt about that,” said first-team coach Chris Hughton, quoted from NUFC official site. “The quality he has, everybody is aware of. The pace that he has means he is able to stretch players and he can score different types of goals.”

And as the Villa boss said that Joe Kinnear has instilled a “new-found spirit” in the Newcastle United dressing room, Joe was even left speechless after his Newcastle’s side stirring a 2-0 win over Aston Villa today.

He was yelled so much during the match to inspired the Lads to the second vital victory in a very sturdy performance by Newcastle, that make him lost his voice to speak to the Press after the game. Fulham next everyone?

TEAMS
Newcastle United:
Shay Given, Habib Beye, Jose Enrique, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Nicky Butt (c), Joey Barton, Jonas Gutierrez, Damien Duff, Oba Martins (Claudio Cacapa – 87), Shola Ameobi (Michael Owen – 90)
Subs: Steve Harper, Danny Guthrie, Sebastien Bassong, Charles N’Zogbia, Geremi

Aston Villa:
Brad Friedel, Luke Young, Carlos Cuellar, Martin Laursen, Nicky Shorey (Sidwell – 71), Nigel Reo-Coker (Harewood – 84), Gareth Barry, John Carew, Gabriel Agbonlahor, James Milner, Ashley Young
Subs: Curtis Davies, Zat Knight, Moustapha Salifou, Bradley Guzan, Craig Gardner

Referee: Steve Bennett
Attendance: 44, 567

As quoted from telegraph website, Lee said “But it’s now a matter of whether or not Mike Ashley wants to invest more money – because he will have to – or whether he just wants to get the club off his hands now.”

Furthermore, Lee said that he’s admire of what the Tottenham’s owner Daniel Levy admitted to have got it wrong, by letting someone else buy players for the manager.

“They’ve now resorted to the way it should be done with Harry Redknapp and he certainly wouldn’t accept that.” Lee added more at the telegraph website.

True to that. I was in personal sees no further benefits to continue the war, and if everyone can realise the future of this club is all that matters, and if Mike Ashley is willing to do the same as Levy did at White Hart Lane, I can forgive Mike Ashley.

Whether MA will open a new conversation to bring KK back or not, that’s another thing, but if he really wants to make a whole new way of relationships between him and the Toon Army, it’s the right time now for him to make a new statement.

And the other important thing at the moment is that JFK is now seeking for a long-term deal with United, after securing the first win for Newcastle since August 2008.

Currently served the club on a month-to-month contract, Joe Kinnear has warned the club owner that he is not prepared to serve as a short-term firefighter indefinitely.

“If Newcastle is not sold quickly there is going to come a point when I’ve got to look after myself,” he said on the guardian site, “I would like a bit more security, I suppose.”

When Ashley appointed him, he does not offering Joe a package that accompanies longer-term deals. “When we had our first chat I saw myself being here two to a maximum of three months, but if the club hasn’t been sold by then we’ll have to review the situation,” said Kinnear. “I want to stay in the game. But I haven’t got a clue what the future holds.”

Now, the future seems still as cloudy as the fog of the Tyne, time will tell and I was hoping if not as soon as before Christmas, JFK would have his contract reveals and so he can continue to build-up the Lads mentality back.