Shearer is doubly confident

ALAN SHEARER headed into one of the biggest weeks of his Newcastle career confident that he can emerge with his trophy dreams still intact.

The 34-year-old striker will lead his side out against Sporting Lisbon to defend a 1-0 UEFA Cup quarter-final lead in Portugal tonight.

And he will hope to head for Cardiff and an FA Cup semi-final date with Man United on Sunday, having helped take his home-town club a step closer to a first trophy in 36 years.

Shearer, as befits a man who has carried the fight for honours squarely on his shoulders for almost nine years, is relishing the prospect, but has few doubts that the next few days could be among the most important of his time at St James’ Park to date.

“Yes, without a doubt,” he said. “It is a great week, it is an interesting week, but it is one we are all looking forward to.

“It is a huge week for us. We will know where we will be come Sunday night, hopefully still left in two big cup competitions with a chance of winning both. It will be tough, but I believe we have got enough.”

Shearer and manager Graeme Souness have spoken with one voice over the past few eventful weeks, with the captain’s decision to stay on for another year and the shameful bust-up between Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer threatening to overshadow to club’s quest for glory, and the Scot too knows exactly what is at stake over the next few days.

“Most people would argue that this is the biggest week, certainly in recent history,” Souness said.

“We have got to come out with all guns blazing in every game we play, whether it is for a short period of time or a long period.

“Hopefully we can get a good result on Thursday, which would set us up nicely for Sunday.

“I regarded myself as a big-game player when I was a player; the bigger the game, the more it turned me on. I am the same now; the bigger they come, the more I look forward to it.

“That is why I am here at Newcastle United. We do not play small games.”

Shearer’s big-game temperament has been a feature of his time at Newcastle, and no more so than during the first leg when his goal gave his side their advantage.

“Teams need inspirational players,” said Souness. “I believe that all the very top teams have two or three people that drag the slightly lesser lights along with them, and then those two or three or three or four will drag the other five or six along with them.

“Certainly Alan Shearer comes into the first category where you stand up and be counted in every game, on every occasion and every incident.”

The charter flight which carried Newcastle to Lisbon was co-piloted by Bruce Dickinson, the frontman of heavy metal band Iron Maiden.

Souness’ side face a major fight at the Jose Alvalade Stadium if they are to progress to a semi-final against either AZ Alkmaar or Villarreal, but they know another clean sheet like the first leg will be enough to ensure that.

“That was the best thing to have come out of the first game,” said Shearer. “They proved to us that they are a decent side, their technical ability is excellent.

“But I think looking at the teams left in this competition, we have a great chance of winning the UEFA Cup.

“If we can get past this round, then we will have a great chance.”

Setanta Sports will show live coverage of the game at 8.10pm.