Shearer out for season

Newcastle’s hopes of clinching a place in next season’s Champions League have been dealt a blow with the news that Alan Shearer will not play again this term.

The Magpies are just one point ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool with two games to play, although that pair must face each other on the final day of the season.

Shearer had to attend last night’s PFA Awards ceremony on crutches after suffering a badly swollen ankle in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Sunderland – with the striker already having a fractured knuckle and a cut head.

The former England skipper told The Sun: “Unfortunately, that’s it for the season. I knew my game was over after the tackle – my ankle was kicked and twisted at the same time.

“Right ankle, right hand and right side of my forehead – I’m sick. I tried to get on to the team bus after the game with crutches but I couldn’t because of my right hand! I was a bit of a mess, really, but there you go.

“But let me say immediately there was nothing wrong with the tackle that led to my ankle injury. No blame to the lad at all.”

Shearer was last night announced as the Premier League’s Overall Player of the Decade.

He was presented with his trophy at the PFA annual dinner, adding to the Domestic Player of the Decade and Outstanding Contribution to the FA Premier League awards he won earlier this month.

Almost three quarter of a million votes were registered for the 10 Seasons Awards on the Premier League’s official website www.premierleague.com celebrating the first decade of the Premier League, a period which has arguably been the most exciting in English football history.

Shearer said: “It is a tremendous honour to have been voted the Overall Best Player in the FA Premier League over the past 10 seasons and I would like to sincerely thank all of the people who were kind enough to vote for me.

“Given the number of top-quality players who have graced our League since its inception, it really fills me with immense pride to have been given this award.

“I remember vividly the first game I had in the Premier League back in August 1992, when I was with Blackburn Rovers, and was fortunate enough to score twice - and what a 10 seasons it’s been for me since then.

“Despite the injuries and odd disappointing moment along the way, no one could have written a better script for me.”