Shay Given was like a child let loose in a sweet shop when he reported for his first day's training with new club Manchester City on Monday. The Ireland goalkeeper signed a four-year contract worth an estimated $30 million after signing from Newcastle United for an undisclosed fee. Given said, "It's exciting times at Manchester City with the new owners and this manager. There are big plans for the club. "I am very excited to be joining and delighted that Manchester City wanted my services. I'm happy that the two clubs could come to an agreement. "Newcastle have been great to me for so many years, and I thank them for that. But I just felt that this was an opportunity for me to come to a club that in my opinion are really going to be going places. "It looks like some good players will come here in the future as well, and I am sure the fans must be on the edge of their seats to see who comes here." Given will team up with fellow Irishmen Richard Dunne and Stephen Ireland at City, and is backing Dunne to put his current loss of form behind him ahead of next week's World Cup qualifier against Georgia. "Dunnie is one of the best centre-halves I have ever played behind," Given told mcfc.co.uk. "He is a fantastic player. We go back over a few years with the Irish squad and know each other well. The partnership between the centre-half and the goalkeeper is an important one and hopefully we will improve as well."