Shearer confirms retirement plans

Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer is still determined to call time on his playing career at the end of the season.

Shearer’s impressive strike rate before suffering a thigh strain last month led to speculation that the former England striker would shelve his retirement plans.

But the 34-year-old, who missed yesterday’s clash with Liverpool, intends to hang up his boots in May and insists he has made no plans beyond that.