Premiership: Shearer up with the best, says Souness

Alan Shearer is up there with the British game’s finest strikers, claims Blackburn boss Graeme Souness.

Shearer returns to Ewood Park tonight with Newcastle, fresh from scoring his 200th Premiership goal at the weekend.

Souness joined in the back-slapping of the former England captain and feels he compares to Dixie Dean, Tommy Lawton, Jimmy Greaves, Gary Lineker, Ian Rush or any other hit-man from down through the years you could mention.

‘‘Alan Shearer would be right up there with any centre forward you would want to mention in the history of the British game,’’ eulogised Souness.

‘‘He is capable of getting the great goals, he is capable of getting the tap-ins, but he will also put his head where a lot of other people wouldn’t.

‘‘He’s been an outstanding professional and still is.’’

Shearer’s form this season has prompted calls for him to come out of retirement to play for England in the World Cup.

The 31-year-old has steadfastly refused, but Souness believes he would still have something to offer on the international stage.

‘‘I think he could still do a job for England in certain games or in parts of games,’’ said Souness.

‘‘But I don’t think he has 90 minutes in him at international level anymore.

‘‘But certainly there is not a centre half in the world who would relish playing against Alan Shearer.

‘‘If you bring him on for the last half hour of the game that centre half is going to go home bruised and battered.

‘‘There is always a use for that, certainly in the British game but also internationally.’’

Henning Berg, who was a team-mate of Shearer during Blackburn’s 1995 championship winning season, echoed Souness’ words.

‘‘Alan Shearer is still doing a fantastic job for Newcastle and he has got an amazing scoring record,’’ he said.

‘‘He got his 200th goal against Charlton on Saturday, which was a phenomenal achievement, and I don’t really know what more I can say about him other than he is a top striker.

‘‘I might know his game pretty well, but it is still going to be very difficult to stop him.’’

Berg must find a way as Blackburn go in search of the win which would effectively secure their Premiership status.

Rovers would move nine points clear of the relegation zone if they beat Bobby Robson’s side.

Souness feels one more win should be enough and he is frustrated that his Worthington Cup winners are at the wrong end of the table.

‘‘Our form has been good this season and I can only think of a handful of games where we haven’t performed,’’ he said.

‘‘If you look at our goal difference, you see we have lost a lot of games by the odd goal.

‘‘And of those goals, if we had eliminated half of them, then we would be sitting in a very comfortable position.’’

Matt Jansen hopes to play some part against Newcastle after recovering from his stomach bug while Souness will check on Yordi, who dashed home to Spain on Saturday night to be at the birth of his first child.