Venables salutes Shearer as footballing master

Ian Parkes

Reformed bad-boy Smith has hit the headlines for all the right reasons in the last few days following his England heroics on Saturday, with the 21-year-old crowning his dazzling debut with a goal in a 1-1 friendly draw against Portugal.

A potentially glittering international career now beckons for Smith, one which may prove as spectacular as that of the 31-year-old Shearer he turns 32 on Friday who hung up his England boots after scoring 30 goals in 63 internationals.