Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given has told how he passed out in the showers at Upton Park after sustaining a bowel injury in a collision with Marlon Harewood. Given, aged 30, said: "I was stretchered off and thought it was easing. I had a shower, got hit by a pain and then passed out for nine or 10 seconds, probably from my body shutting down."
The injury has already been likened to those sustained in a car crash, and now Given claims his surgeon compared his injury to having acid poured into his stomach (ouch!). The Republic of Ireland international is expected to be out of action for another month.
[Rob Parker]