Football FanCast's columnist Matt William's looks at this pivotol point in Given's career and thinks he deserves to be first choice.

Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given has today told the Times newspaper of his injury frustrations that he’s suffered in the past few seasons. “I was known as ‘Lazarus' before,” the Irish goalkeeper said. “They call me 'Sicknote' now.”

Given’s injury problems were not nice to see. A top class goalkeeper, he also seems like a thoroughly nice chap, one of those rare cases in football in which a player is liked by fans of all clubs, not just the fans of the club he’s contracted to.

Pre-injury, it could even be argued that Given was the best in the league. At times he single-handedly kept Newcastle in matches, and if it wasn’t for his stopping to compliment Shearer’s scoring, who knows where thewould be today?

But thanks to Steve Harper, the Magpie’s reserve keeper, Given wasn’t missed perhaps quite as much as we all thought he would be. Harper, all credit to him, took his chance with aplomb and can rightfully consider himself one of the Premiership’s best goalkeepers now as well.

His loyalty to his club, not to mention his own talent, means Newcastle have two goalkeepers that they can be proud of. But with both players coming to pivotal stages in their careers (Given is 32, Harper is 33), can the player who doesn’t get the nod by Kevin Keegan next week against Man Utd really see himself spending a campaign on the substitutes bench?

Given will want to play after such a long lay-off, whilst Harper will feel he’s played the understudy for long enough and more than justified his place in the first team. That’s the problem with the goalkeeping position, having two players of equal quality very rarely works.

A first-choice is a first-choice, whilst the back-up, whether it’s down to talent, experience or age, knows his place as reserve.

Manchester City for example, could no longer work last year with Isaksson, Hart and Schmeichel all vying for the same spot. They ended up having to get rid of a very talented young (in keeper terms) international goalkeeper in Isaksson as a result of it.

At Newcastle it’s worked a little differently before. Harper and Given do work well together, they both appreciate the club they’re at and have an affinity with the fans. But now Harper has had a taste of first team football, and now Given is at an age where a starting spot is absolutely vital, can the marriage continue?

Arsenal have been repeatedly linked with Given before, whilst any number of clubs will be queuing up just dying to offer a player of his quality their Number 1 shirt.

Keegan has a real dilemma in front of him before next weeks opener at Old Trafford. But will his decision have even more important long-term affects?