Newcastle keeper Shay Given is expected to be out for six weeks after having groin surgery in Germany on Tuesday.

Given has not played since Newcastle’s 5-1 home defeat against Manchester United on 23 February. He was operated on by Dr Ulrike Muschaweck, who has also treated Michael Owen and Alan Shearer.

A Newcastle statement read: “Shay Given is expected to make a full recovery after surgery and will be absent for a six-week period.”

The 31-year-old Republic of Ireland keeper was sidelined by a similar problem at the start of the season.

He has been troubled by the problem throughout the season and has been restricted to just 24 appearances – Steve Harper has deputised as Newcastle have been dragged into the relegation fight under new manager Kevin Keegan.

Kevin Keegan believes spirits are high at Newcastle United despite the club’s woeful run of form. The Magpies travel to Birmingham on Monday night looking for their first Premier League win in 13 games.

Newcastle’s woeful sequence of results has seen them slip down the table and even raise question marks over Keegan’s future. However, Keegan has stated his players are staying positive and he believes that a victory could lay the platform for an upturn in form.

“It is our job to pick them up all the time – and sometimes, it is their job to pick us up. It is a two-way thing, but spirits are still pretty high and a win would just elevate them and take them on to another level. That has always been the case in football. Players do not enjoy losing football matches.” – said Keegan.

“The players in the team feel under pressure and the players out of the team feel they should be in. It has never been any different. You can find yourselves playing the Arsenals and the Chelseas and the Manchester Uniteds and the Liverpools and the tough ones around you, and you can find yourselves easily in this division losing three or four games on the trot. “

Michael Owen believes he could miss out on Fabio Capello’s England squad to face France on March 26 if Newcastle’s miserable run of results continues. The 28-year-old striker has scored only five goals for the Magpies this season during an injury-hit campaign.

Owen told BBC Radio 5 Live: “When you are down it’s hard to be listened to. Results are not going well and, when you are not playing well as a team and individually, then individuals will not get picked for the national team.”

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid frontman was an unused substitute during Capello’s first match in charge – a 2-1 win over Switzerland on 6 February.

“The new manager has only had one game in charge and that was a friendly so we will see what develops,” added Owen.

The Magpies are three points above the drop zone in 15th place and face crucial matches against fellow-strugglers Birmingham, Fulham and Reading in three of their next four matches.

Owen added: “We are expected to get points and we need to pick them up now. There are certain clubs that criticism attracts. People see the support we get and if we are not up there in the prominent positions then people ask why. But I’m at a club where you feel like a spark will get us back on the crest of the wave and help us move up the league – that can give us a platform to build on.”

Newcastle defender Steven Taylor says he is committed to the club despite contract talks stalling. Taylor, who has 18 months left on his current contract, rejected Newcastle’s initial offer of a new deal and talks over an extension have been placed on hold until the club secure their Premier League status.

Rumours have suggested Taylor could leave St James’ Park as he is unhappy with the progress of talks, but the England Under 21 international insists he is happy to stay on Tyneside.

“I am 100 per cent committed to Newcastle,” Taylor told Sky Sports News. “I cannot see myself leaving this football club this is where I want to play my football and I am happy here. Obviously working for Kevin Keegan for me is fantastic, I remember me and my dad on the terraces going to games and to be now working under him is fantastic, a dream come true.”

Newcastle sit just three points above the relegation drop zone after a disastrous run of form, but Taylor is confident they can negotiate their way to safety.

“We have been through a difficult time, but we will definitely pull through it, I have been here since I was nine-years-old as a fan on the terraces and having 52,000 Geordie fans screaming every week, even if we are getting beat, always behind you and that is what you need.”

Newcastle are closing in on a move for Senegal defender Lamine Diatta. Diatta is available outside the transfer window as he is a free agent having bought himself out of his contract with Besiktas.

The powerful defender is believed to have travelled over to England earlier this week as he seeks to secure a move to the Premier League. Birmingham and Wigan have been linked with the 32-year-old, but it appears Newcastle have jumped to the head of the queue.

Magpies boss Kevin Keegan is keen to shore up his leaky defence as he looks to arrest their slide down the table and he is believed to be ready to offer  a short-term deal at St James’ Park.

Diatta has a wealth of experience having played for Toulouse, Marseille, Rennes, Lyon and St Etienne in France before making the move to Besiktas.

Newcastle are set to give former Tottenham assistant boss Chris Hughton a coaching role at St James’ Park. The 49-year-old has been out of work since October when he and manager Martin Jol were sacked by Tottenham.

He is expected to replace Nigel Pearson, who left St James’ Park in the wake of Kevin Keegan’s appointment as manager in January. Hughton spent more than 14 years on the Tottenham backroom staff, serving under 10 different managers.

The former defender also began his playing career at White Hart Lane and earned 53 caps for the Republic of Ireland between 1979 and 1993.

When Keegan’s surprise appointment was revealed, there was widespread speculation that Alan Shearer could be given a role in his coaching team. However, that hope faded dramatically following talks between the Magpies goalscoring hero and the new manager.

Newcastle have since appointed Dennis Wise as executive director of football as the club put together a new management team following Sam Allardyce’s sacking in January.