Peter White on the Ewood connection at tomorrow's Wembley showpiece

SHAY Given will reap a rich reward at Wembley tomorrow for sticking to his guns and insisting on a move from Ewood Park when his contract with Blackburn Rovers expired last summer.

The permanent number two to Tim Flowers, Given had no argument with the club which helped salvage his career, after he had been released by Celtic.

His towering ambitions, however, meant he had to prove himself capable of filling the role of number one, not only at club level but also on the international scene with the Republic of Ireland.

With the vast majority of his Rovers appearances being confined to the Pontin's League rather than the Premiership, he could see no way of doing that at Ewood.

So it was off to rejoin manager Kenny Dalglish at Newcastle and the chance to achieve his dreams after a tribunal put a £1.5 million fee on the keeper's head.

And, even though the dream almost turned into a nightmare, Given insists that the move would still have been the right one for his long-term career.

The keeper's problems began in early November when Coventry striker Dion Dublin outfoxed him to score one of the most bizarre goals of the season at Highfield Road. He still blushes when he recalls it.

"Probably no goal has been played over and over again on the video as that, in fact probably as many people have seen that as will watch the final worldwide tomorrow," he said.

"But at least I did all the other keepers a big favour.

"For, while I have learned from what happened that day, I am sure so too have a lot of other goalkeepers."

What made the 22-year-old's blunder worse was that he was injured immediately after the Coventry game and had to spend three months back in the familiar position of number two - on Tyneside instead of at Ewood - as Shaka Hislop grabbed his chance with both hands.

"It was a bad time for me," he admitted.

"First there was the Coventry thing. Then I was injured and lost my place at Newcastle and we did not qualify for the World Cup after being beaten in the play-offs by Belgium.

"But at no time have I ever thought that coming to Newcastle was not going to work.

"Even if we had not got to the FA Cup Final it would have been a good move for me instead of being number two to Tim Flowers at Blackburn." Given's character-building experiences this season will stand him in good stead for future big occasions, especially tomorrow against favourites Arsenal when the domestic game's climax will be watched by the usual worldwide audience.

He has probably grown up as a footballer, having finally had the chance to prove himself in the Premiership.

The keeper has also made some crucial saves on the way to Wembley - and one in particular stands out.

It was in the quarter final against Barnsley as Newcastle were hanging on to a 2-1 lead and he stopped a certain equaliser from Ashley Ward.

He added: "We don't think of Alan's goals or my saves. Getting to Wembley has been a team effort.

"But I will say that that effort against Ashley Ward was probably the most important save I have made since I joined United."

If Arsenal are able to reproduce the flair and firepower that helped them to the championship, the modest young Irishman could be forced to revise that view after 90 minutes at Wembley.

For there is no doubt the Gunners will start red-hot favourites..

Surprisingly perhaps, Given has never been to Wembley as a player or spectator.

But he could hardly have choosen a bigger or better stage to wipe out the memory of the goal which continues to haunt him.

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