Daily Mirror:
Goalkeeper 'Showdown' Utter RUBBISH!
"Newcastle's Shay Given will have showdown talks with Toon boss Sam Allardyce when he returns from international duty next week.
"The Ireland goalkeeper, who will earn his 81st cap against Slovakia on Saturday, returned after groin injury in the Carling Cup on Wednesday but Steve Harper was recalled for Saturday's Premier League win over Wigan."
Sam Allardyce said last Wednesday that he was going to give the Irish international a run out in the Carling Cup after his long on-going injury problems.
He even said at the time: "I'm going to go steady with Shay. I know the trouble he has had. If there is any doubt about him he won't play against Barnsley. This injury takes time."
There is no battle brewing, no head-to-head with Given and Steve Harper.
The pair are best of mates and have been for years. Harper got the nod on Saturday against Wigan and has done wrong in the four Premiership games he has played. Why shouldn't he play?
Oba Martins and Shola Ameobi sat out the match too. Are they set for "showdown talks" too?
The squad consists of 20-plus player ... but only eleven get on the field. That's the nature of the game.
Another national newspaper jumping on a story to rubbish Newcastle, while not letting the truth get in the way.