Shearer ‘desperate’ to enter fray

GRAEME SOUNESS claims Alan Shearer is “desperate” to get back into action to change the course of Newcastle’s troubled season.

The St James' Park boss insists his players are hurting badly after stumbling to yet another defeat at Liverpool and that Shearer's return for their St Stephen's Day trip to Blackburn could be the boost they need.

For Souness and Shearer, the Ewood Park visit is a return to their former clubs, Souness leaving the team in September to replace Bobby Robson while Shearer's goals took Rovers to the championship in the 1994-1995 season. And although Shearer has made it clear he still aims to retire from playing in the summer, his goals now are crucial to Souness and the salvage job he is faced with at Newcastle, who have taken just 16 points from their last 13 matches.