Shay Given exclusive: Newcastle can catch Man City out in FA Cup

Newcastle suffered their 12th defeat of the season in the Premier League Monday night, leaving them bang average as number 10 in the table. A hefty down-swing in form compared to the five defeats in total last season. With an away game against Manchester City coming up in the FA Cup, could this end up being a season to forget?

"I don't think so. Now that they've got no European games, I think you'll definitely see in an improvement in the last 10-11 games of the Premier League season," says Newcastle legend Shay Given in conversation with Tribalfootball.com.

"Obviously, every Newcastle fan would love them to win the FA Cup, but they've had no luck at all with the draws in the Cup competitions this year. They faced Manchester City and Manchester United in the EFL Cup, before getting knocked out by Chelsea.

"They had the toughest group at all in the Champions League and now Man City away in the FA Cup. Then again, in a one-off game at the Etihad, you just never know. Manchester City might have one eye on the Champions League and the Premier League. It depends who is fit for Newcastle, but we know strange things can happen in the FA Cup," Given adds hopefully, still putting a lot of faith in manager Eddie Howe.

"Eddie's brilliant on the training ground, and he's had more time in the last few weeks to coach his team. In the first six or seven months of the season there was no preparation going on. It was just wrapping the lads up in cotton wool and ice baths and getting ready for the next game.

"That makes it difficult for him to coach and prepare for games. I think you'll see Newcastle with a strong finish to the season," says Given who doesn't join in the choir who's had it in for Martin Dubravka as he has deputized for