SHAY Given said he was "proud and honoured" to be voted as the Premiership's top stopper by his fellow professionals for a second time.

Newcastle United's number one was named in the Premiership Team of the Year at the PFA's Annual Awards evening at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on Sunday.

Given told nufc.co.uk: "To receive any award is nice, but when you are honoured by your fellow professionals who you play against week in, week out, it is a tremendous accolade.

"I was proud and honoured to be named in the Team of the Year - and it was quite a team!

"I have been happy with the way my form has been over the season, I feel I've been playing well, but it's not for me to say whether this is the best season I've had.

"I was named in the Team of the Year a couple of seasons back, and all you do as a goalkeeper, or as any player, is to try and keep on improving your game.

"Hopefully I've done that, and to be chosen in the team means I must be doing something right."

The award capped a memorable week for the Irishman, who was handed the captain's armband by Glenn Roeder on his 30^th birthday last Thursday.

He added: "It wasn't a bad week. To get the skipper's armband was a proud moment for me, as I said last week, and we also took six points from the games against Sunderland and West Brom.

"In terms of the team, we've had a season of ups and downs but we're finishing strongly having won the last five in a row.

"Saturday at Birmingham will be another tough test for us, but if we can win that one then we will go into the final game of the season at home to Chelsea with a chance of getting that UEFA Cup spot.

"It's certainly tight in and around where we are sitting in the league table at the moment, and all we can do is make sure we win our games and see where that leaves us.

"But it looks as though things are going to be set up for an exciting finale, and it's going to go right down to the wire."