Souness wants Shearer to stay on....again.

[kennethlindheim]

GRAEME SOUNESS wants Alan Shearer to shelve retirement plans for a SECOND time.

Newcastle boss Souey believes the former England skipper is back to his best following a career-saving hernia op last month.

And the Scot is keen to force Shearer, 35, into another U-turn as the Geordies legend nears a Toon-record 200 goals.

Souey said: “I certainly wouldn’t close the door on Alan carrying on. We’ll wait and see what happens in May.

“He still has a lot of goals left in him. The decision will have to come from him but anyone who’s seen him in the last few weeks will realise he still has an enormous part to play at this club.

“This year the gameplan was to look after him and try to keep him well rested.

“But we’re now heading into the New Year and we haven’t done that. He has been in the firing line every week and in the hardest position there is.

“He’s a football player who is enjoying his football and it’s like any job — if you’re enjoying it then why stop?”

Shearer will lead Newcastle’s line against Liverpool on Boxing Day one strike away from Toon legend Jackie Milburn’s haul of 200 Magpies goals.

And Souness sees no signs of his captain marvel feeling the festive strain ahead of the packed Christmas fixture list.

Souey added: “I don’t see a player on the training ground who wants to pack it in. There’s nothing I’ve seen to suggest that is the case.

“The hernia problem had held him back. It was certainly having an effect.

“But he looks to have found an extra yard since the operation.

“That, coupled with how much he enjoys playing alongside Michael Owen, means he is looking better than ever.”

Souness admitted he has no idea how to plan for a future without his inspirational leader, who has hit four league goals so far this season.

The Toon boss said: “There isn’t another Alan Shearer out there. I’d have to find someone different.

“I don’t know anyone else who plays like that. There is not an obvious alternative out there.

“If you’re a supporter, a player or a football person you realise how special Alan is.“If you’re a player, you realise that straight away. He turns average balls into good balls and good balls into great balls. He’s a scorer of every type of goal going. He plays the centre-forward role in the toughest way possible.

“He’s not the biggest guy. He really isn’t Big Al at all at 6ft. He’s no Emile Heskey and yet he plays like a man much bigger than that.”

Souness faces a mammoth task in persuading Shearer against retiring at the end of this season. And the Scot believes there will NEVER be another English centre-forward in the Shearer mould.

Souey added: “If I was thinking about replacing him then I’d look for the nearest player to him.

“But I’d never find an exact match. He can play good football and score goals but he can still go to war — even at 35.


“I know what that feels like and it’s not every player who wants to do that at his age.

“It’s not nice when you’ve been in the game for so long and you’re still waking up on a Sunday with a lump on your head and aches and pains everywhere else.The fact he’s still playing is great.”

What Souness says about him after the operation does have some truth in it...

If he has a blinding 2nd half to the season, do we have any harm in keeping him on and using him infrequently next season? Sheringhams now at about 40, and he's holding up well still.

[CantonaStillGod]

Originally Posted by kennethlindheim

What Souness says about him after the operation does have some truth in it...

If he has a blinding 2nd half to the season, do we have any harm in keeping him on and using him infrequently next season? Sheringhams now at about 40, and he's holding up well still.

Sheringham has had less injuries than Shearer and he really is a very different player, he's got a bit more link with midfield and doesn't throw himself into challenges or 50 50s all the time, what Souness says about Shearer acting like a man twice his size is telling...that has to have an effect on you physically and Sheringham is more about spotting the right ball at the right time, being in the right place and finishing. I think the fact that Shearer's knees are gone will eventually tell to be honest...though not at the moment he seems man of the match for me in every game he plays and don't get me wrong I'd like to see him go on for as long as possible.

[kennethlindheim]

Newcastle striker Alan Shearer insists he will ignore calls for him to postpone his retirement for a second time.

Magpies boss Graeme Souness has stated he would like to see the veteran backtrack on plans to hang up his boots next summer.

The Scot successfully persuaded Shearer to play on this season but the 35-year-old is adamant he will finally call it a day this time.

"As far as I am concerned, nothing has changed. I will retire at the end of the season," Shearer told The Sun.

[Toonarmy]

it will be the end of a legends career

[PnyX]

they should let him go man, its good to stop while u still on top, dont want to go out like fergie

[NJ10]

i think shearer will finish at the end of this season, but i think newcastle will need a massive massive signing to replace him. shearer is the focal point of their team, even with owen playing, and even if/when he doesnt play particularly well, he still contributes hugely.

then again, i said the same thing this time last season, and he changed his mind.....

[hanuma]

Let him go for God's sake.

Scored a **** load of goals, bravo....good bye.