Newcastle United are confident goalkeeper Shay Given will play again this season despite suffering his third injury setback in recent months.

The Republic of Ireland international strained his groin during yesterday's dull scoreless draw at home to Arsenal and was substituted 25 minutes into the game.

Given is unlikely to play against Portsmouth this weekend but manager Glenn Roeder is confident the 30-year-old will make a swift return.

Roeder is adamant this latest problem is related to the ruptured bowel Given sustained against West Ham in September, an injury which resulted in surgery and a lengthy spell out of the team.
 
"I am absolutely certain, like the doctor and the physio, that it all leads back to West Ham," he said.  "That has obviously weakened him.

"When someone who has not been injured for five years suddenly picks up three injuries in one season, it is too much of a coincidence."

Indeed, this is the second groin injury to sideline the Donegal man this season.  A knock in January forced him out for a month and he missed Ireland's European qualifier in San Marino as a result.

Although frustrated at losing his number one goalkeeper, Roeder was lifted somewhat by Damien Duff's return to form.

Having himself struggled with injury this season, the 28-year-old Dubliner is slowly finding his rhythm and went close to scoring three times yesterday.

"Damien Duff looks a different player in the last three or four game," Roeder said.

"He looks like the Damien Duff we brought here at the start of the season, and I am really, really pleased for him because he is a great guy to work with.

"I hope he finishes the season like he has played these last two, three, four games, if you include his two international performances.

"We can look forward to the Damien Duff everyone knows for the next four years when we start pre-season in July."