Shearer confident ahead of Newcastle´s last gasp

Alan Shearer expects Newcastle to avoid relegation with a victory in the biggest match in the club’s history at Aston Villa on Sunday.

Shearer’s side will drop out of the Premier League for the first time in 16 years if they lose at Villa or if Hull and Sunderland win their fixtures against Manchester United and Chelsea respectively.

It is a dire situation for one of England’s best supported clubs, who routinely pull in crowds of over 50,000 despite not winning a major trophy since 1969.

The cost of relegation would be measured in pound notes as well as pride at St James’ Park. The financial damage of relegation is estimated at around 60 million pounds in television revenue and commercial spin-offs, which would be a major blow to the value of a business in which owner Mike Ashley has invested a total of around 250 million pounds.

Shearer, who returned to the club as manager on a caretaker basis after Joe Kinnear’s heart operation, is well aware of the significance of the game, but the former Newcastle striker is convinced his players will rise to the occasion.

“It’s bigger than a cup final, a hell of a lot bigger than a cup final,” Shearer said on Friday.

“We have got one last throw of the dice and we have got to give everything in this particular game and see where we get to.

“I am totally convinced we will get out of it, yes, and I think more importantly, so are my players.

“I am trying to be as relaxed as possible. Obviously, I live in the city, I am aware of what it means, but also my players are aware of what it means as well.”

Shearer, who answered his hometown club’s SOS call with just eight games of a traumatic season remaining, insists the black mark on his CV if Newcastle do go down would be irrelevant compared to the stain on the club’s reputation.

“I am not important in this, Mike Ashley is not important in this. What is important is the football club. That will always be bigger and better than any one individual,” he said.

“Hopefully, I am standing on Monday morning talking about Newcastle as a Premier League football club. That’s the aim.

“We have now got a chance to save Newcastle – that’s the important thing. Anything else can wait, and anything else is irrelevant.”

Shearer hopes that captain Michael Owen, who is expected to train on Saturday as he continues his recovery from a groin injury, will be able to play some part at Villa Park.

However, right-back Habib Beye has been ruled out with his hamstring injury and Sebastien Bassong is suspended, with Shearer facing a choice between Fabricio Coloccini, David Edgar and Ryan Taylor as he attempts to put together another back four.

While Shearer will concentrate on events at Villa Park, he will also be hoping that United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will do him a favour by fielding a side which can beat Hull despite reports the Scot will use reserves ahead of next week’s Champions League final against Barcelona.

Shearer said: “He has got a very important game on Wednesday, a huge game, a European Cup final, so he can play whatever players he wants, he can rest whatever players he wants.

“But we are talking about Manchester United here, the biggest and best squad in the league, so whatever team he puts out will be capable of beating Hull.”