Shay Given, Newcastle United's troubled goalkeeper, was yesterday given a vote of confidence as Mick McCarthy begins his build-up to Saturday's controversial game against Yugoslavia.

Without waiting for the formal announcement of his team, expected on Friday, McCarthy said that Given would retain his place in goal despite his recent tribulations at club level. "I was surprised by one or two things I read about Shay after the Northern Ireland game - from where I stood he did nothing wrong and he had no chance with the goal," McCarthy said yesterday.

"And reading them I just wondered if people were latching on to the fact that he was dropped by Newcastle towards the end of the season. To be honest I was surprised by that - I was surprised he didn't play in the FA Cup final. "But for me he has always been a top-class goalkeeper and if you need confirmation of that I'll have him in my team on Saturday."

As yet Jason McAteer hasn't trained following his recent injury and after starting the first of yesterday's training sessions Kevin Kilbane, another casualty in the closing month of the season, quickly retreated to the touchline. With his cover down the right flank diminished, McCarthy will be monitoring McAteer's progress closely over the next few days, although he does have the option of playing Mark Kennedy in that position.

Kennedy has known better days than the one he experienced against Northern Ireland but the manager was quick to point out that, like Robbie Keane and Damien Duff, he suffered from the state of the pitch.

"The grass was too long and the players affected most in that situation were those who dribble with the ball, people like Mark, Damien and Robbie.

"The playing surface will be different on Saturday and I think that will be reflected in the performances of all players but these three in particular."

Asked if the dismal display in that game had altered his thoughts about the Yugoslav assignment, he said: "Not at all - it won't enter into the equation when I pick my team."

"Of course, we're disappointed that we lost. But we did beat two decent teams in Paraguay and Sweden earlier in the year. In a way it may be a good thing for some people think we only have to turn up to win these games. "It will be different on Saturday. The players know what they have to do and in spite of all the distractions they are in the mood to achieve it."

The implied message is that his starting line-up will not differ much from that which crashed last Saturday with the return of Dennis Irwin and McAteer, if fit, the only changes. On Roy Keane's absence from the team he said: "I've just been watching a video of our game in Belgrade last November and it brings it home to you.

"Yes, he's a huge loss to everybody but most of all his team-mates. To lose a player of his quality for a game like this is a heavy blow."

Meanwhile, England coach Kevin Keegan is to name his side more than 48 hours ahead of Saturday's make-or-break European Championship encounter at Wembley.

The days of secrecy during the Glenn Hoddle reign and the absurdity of forcing the likes of Gareth Southgate and David Beckham to feign injury to try and throw the media pack off the scent appear to be well and truly buried.

Keegan is unconcerned about whether or not this will give his Swedish counterpart Tommy Soderborg any advantage.