Shearer all set for pivotal tie

Newcastle captain Alan Shearer believes this season’s UEFA Cup winners could be on the pitch at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus tonight.

The Magpies face Olympiakos on the Greek side’s patch hoping to be in a strong position to win the last-16 tie when it concludes at St James’ Park next Wednesday evening and the former England striker is relishing the heavyweight clash.

“We have got to take each round as it comes, but I have looked at the teams left in it and without a doubt I think Newcastle and Olympiacos are two of the strongest teams left,” he said.

“You look at who was knocked out in the last round – Ajax, Valencia, Feyenoord – there are some big teams who have gone out and if we get through this game, we have set ourselves up very nicely.

“But we have got to get through it first.”

Olympiakos dropped into the competition from the Champions League after losing their place in the top tier event only on goal difference after Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard scored late on at Anfield in a 3-1 win.