... after the club suspended assistant manager Ian Culverhouse and head of football operations Gary Karsa “pending an internal investigation”.
The suspension of the pair, who followed boss Paul Lambert to Villa after working with him at Norwich and before then at Colchester, was confirmed in a statement from the Premier League club.
Goalkeeper Given and Villa legend Gordon Cowans have been temporarily promoted to assist Lambert and his first-team coaching staff.
Villa said in a statement: “The club can confirm that Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa have been suspended pending an internal investigation.”
Lambert added: “I’m delighted to have Gordon and Shay to assist me in preparing the team for Saturday which is what the whole group is focused on.”
Shay Given: “As players, it’s important that each and every one of us take responsibility right now and I’m delighted to play my part in helping the manager and the team go and try to win on Saturday.”
Given played 463 times for Newcastle in 12 years at the club.