Souness persists with Shearer campaign

Newcastle boss Graeme Souness has admitted he has used emotional blackmail in an attempt to persuade skipper Alan Shearer not to retire.

The 34-year-old striker, who collected his 14th goal of the season in last Thursday night’s 2-1 UEFA Cup win in Heerenveen, shows no sign of rethinking his decision to call it a day at the end of the current campaign, but the Scot is yet to give up his attempts to get him to play on.