Sunday media watch [05.02.12]: Given and Bent in focus

Sunday Express: Aston Villa striker Darren Bent has described Newcastle legend Alan Shearer as "simply the best" after joining him in the Barclays Premier League's 100-goal club. Bent netted his century of top-flight goals against QPR in midweek but heads to Newcastle today still 160 behind Shearer.

Independent on Sunday: Most professional athletes would rather look forward than back, and Shay Given is no exception. Aston Villa's goalkeeper will surely receive a rousing reception from the Newcastle United supporters when he returns to the club he represented for the best part of 12 years later today, but the Irishman admits that thoughts of this summer's European Championship are already in his mind. "It's the first time I'll be back at St James' Park since I left so it will feel a bit strange I suppose, but you move on and the big thing for me is doing a job for Aston Villa," said Given, who made a total of 462 appearances for the Magpies, behind only Jimmy Lawrence (496) and Frank Hudspeth (472) in that famous club's history.

Daily Star on Sunday: Aston Villa striker Darren Bent has hailed Newcastle legend Alan Shearer as "simply the best" - after joining him as part of the Premier League 100-goal club. Bent netted his 100th top-flight goal against QPR in midweek but heads to Newcastle with Villa today still 160 short of Magpies hero Shearer.

Sky Sports: Aston Villa striker Darren Bent has hailed Alan Shearer after joining him in the Premier League's 100-goal club. Bent's strike in their 2-2 league draw with QPR in midweek took his tally in England's top flight to three figures. Shearer is the Premier League's all-time leader scorer with 260 goals and Bent has labelled him an 'icon' of the English game ahead of Villa's clash with Newcastle at St James' Park. The former Sunderland and Tottenham striker is full of admiration for the ex-England international and he hopes to emulate his success at Villa.

Sporting Life: Aston Villa striker Darren Bent has hailed Newcastle legend Alan Shearer as "simply the best" after joining him as part of the Barclays Premier League 100-goal club. Bent netted his 100th top-flight goal against QPR in midweek but heads to Newcastle with Villa on Sunday still 160 short of hometown hero Shearer.

Sunday Mirror: Shay Given will try to shut out the emotion when he walks out to the strains of 'Local Hero' at Newcastle today. The man who was the Toon goalkeeper for 12 years admits the memories will come tumbling back, but three years after he walked away Given is determined to be the complete professional as Aston Villa aim to be only the third side to win there this season.

Observer: When Mark Knopfler's Local Hero is reverberating around St James' Park before kick-off on Sunday, Shay Given could be forgiven for coming over all sentimental. This will be the first time the Irishman has played at Newcastle United since he quit the club to join Manchester City at the start of 2009, bringing to an end the best part of 12 colourful years on Tyneside. It is tempting to suggest that it must have felt like a life sentence at times, particularly towards the end, when Joe Kinnear took over and became the eighth and last Newcastle manager Given played under, yet there is no trace of any frustration at the way things unravelled. The Aston Villa goalkeeper speaks with great affection about the club where he made 461 appearances - only Jimmy Lawrence and Frank Hudspeth have played more times for Newcastle - and is delighted to be returning at a time when the team is thriving.

Daily Star on Sunday: Shay Given heads back to Newcastle today for the first time, insisting he has no ­regrets about leaving the Toon. The Aston Villa keeper's declaration might seem a bit strange given the respective positions of his current and former clubs right now. Villa went into the weekend sitting 11th in the table ­following their midweek draw at home to QPR - and with little but pride to play for over the next few months. By contrast the Geordies were flying high in fifth spot, 11 points better off than their Midlands rivals and very much in the thick of the race for Champions League places. Yet despite that gap, Given, who arrived at Villa Park this summer after two tricky years with Manchester City, is adamant that after more than a decade with the Toon it was time to go.

*The extracts on this page are taken from various newspapers and media outlets. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Aston Villa.