Emmet Malone talks to a player who in the last couple of years has risen to the top of his profession

It's almost two years since Shay Given watched Ireland's last qualification campaign kick off from the stands of the Amsterdam Arena. Having been overtaken in Mick McCarthy's pecking order by both Alan Kelly and Dean Kiely, he was the one figure who looked down as the squad made its way back to Dublin after the 2-2 draw. But then it was a difficult time for the goalkeeper from Lifford who had his troubles at club level as well.

In the two years since that memorable night in Holland many of this Irish squad have copper-fastened their reputations, but there is probably nobody whose fortunes have soared to quite the extent as Given.

Last season Given earned the title of the premier league's best goalkeeper from his fellow players and a series of strong performances during the World Cup simply underlined his emergence as one of the game's top goalkeepers.

The Champions League will provide an opportunity to test him further against the continent's best over the coming months while Ireland's Portugal 2004 campaign is another chance to confirm his status on the international stage.

"It's been good," he grins warmly as he reflects on his experiences of the past 12 months or so "and I'm really looking forward to the season ahead.

"Even last week, when they made the draw for the Champions League, just seeing Newcastle's name up there, amongst the 32 best clubs in Europe was terrific," he adds.

The summer's events in Japan and Korea, of course, were marred slightly in the end by the manner of Ireland's exit from the World Cup and Given admits that he has avoided seeing any reruns of that penalty shoot-out against the Spaniards.

Asked about his desire beforehand to take a spot kick if the situation arose he still manages a laugh. "Everybody was saying to me just to concentrate on saving theirs, which was fair enough. Although the way that went maybe I'd have been better off if I had taken one.

"That's behind us now, though," he says quickly. "The important thing now is to get to Portugal.

"I suppose I've experienced it all with the Ireland team over the past few years. The final whistle in Iran was probably the best feeling I'd experienced in years and then there was the heartbreak in Belgium, and Turkey - even though I was only watching it on television.

"Now I think there's a lot of belief in the side and we can build on what we did achieve at the World Cup.

"I mean two years ago nobody gave us a chance of getting out of our group, but we had to have the belief ourselves."

Now, he admits, the team's improved standing and its status as a top seed has changed things.

"We have something to live up to but we're determined to do it, for the supporters as much as anything else.

"Japan and Korea were so far away and still so many came out to support us. Now it would be like giving something back to qualify for Portugal."

A clean sheet tomorrow and perhaps the greatest test of the entire campaign will go down as a another big game and a another great night for a man who has, during these past couple of years, learned to take both comfortably in his stride.