STAND-IN skipper Jermaine Jenas will be happy to hand the captain's armband back to Alan Shearer today - providing Newcastle United reap the rewards.

Shearer, who has recovered from calf and thigh injuries, is due to make his first appearance since November 14's defeat to Manchester United when Southampton visit Tyneside this afternoon.

It has been a frustrating time for the 34-year-old who reiterated his intentions to hang up his boots at the end of the season - despite still needing 17 goals to overtake Jackie Milburn's club record 200 in a black and white shirt.

And Jenas revealed that the whole squad are delighted to see Shearer back in the fold again and the midfielder holds high hopes that Newcastle can climb back up into the top half of the table sooner rather than later.

"Although it's been a great honour captaining the side, I'm delighted to be handing the armband back to Alan. Any team would miss him and not just for his goals. It's great to have him back," said Jenas.

"Yes, I'd love to take the job again because it's been a great honour and a great experience even though I've been captain over a tough period when results haven't always gone our way.

"Alan's confirmed he's retiring at the end of the season but only he can say whether he's going out with goals still in him. He knows his body better than anyone, that's why he's made the decision. He made it once before at international level and stuck to it and Newcastle benefited.

"He knows his own body and has made the decision to quit on his own. No-one has broached the subject. We respect him too much, he will be missed because he's a great character inside the dressing room.

"A lot of the lads don't want him to go but it's his decision."

In the absence of Shearer and Patrick Kluivert in recent games, manager Graeme Souness has switched to a five man midfield and used Craig Bellamy as a right winger.

Souness is expected to revert to a 4-4-2 formation this afternoon even if Sheaer starts on the bench.

And Jenas has been asked recently to play more of a defensive role but he is keen to turn his hand to goalscoring again - having only scored once in the league all season back in October.

"I've had to sacrifice myself playing in that holding position. I've not been able to get ahead of the ball so obviously there haven't been too many scoring opportunities," said the England international.

"But that's what you have to do as part of a team. I was asked to do a job and did it. It's not a role I particularly want at this stage of my career but it's another string to my bow and something I will benefit from when I'm older.

"The manager has told me that. He knows he's restricting me a bit but also let me know it will help me in the long run."

Going into this weekend's fixtures, Newcastle sit in 14th place and are nine points adrift of North-East neighbours Middlesbrough in sixth.

But three points against Southampton today could lift Souness' side into the top ten and extend their unbeaten run to four matches.

And Jenas remains optimistic. He said: "Europe is still a realistic ambition, definitely We've had a very poor start, drawn games we should have won and lost too many. Now we need to string together a few wins. Do that and then we'll be right back in amongst it.

"Now we've got new faces and players coming back and that will bring a freshness we're going to need. It is like a fresh start for us.

"We have great names here but great names don't always make great teams. It's more than that. No disrespect to Everton but they are no massive names in that side but they stick together work hard and get the results."

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