NEWCASTLE chairman Freddy Shepherd has insisted skipper Alan Shearer will not be leaving St James' Park this summer, writes Scott Wilson.

Shearer created a storm this week when he suggested he would consider leaving Newcastle if he was not guaranteed a first-team place next season.

The former England international has since underlined his commitment to the Magpies' cause, although Sir Bobby Robson has refused to comment on his captain's views.

Shepherd is currently in Hong Kong as part of the club's pre-season tour of the Far East that will continue with tomorrow's game against FC Kitchee.

And the United chief has welcomed Shearer's forthrightness, while also confirming that he has no intention of losing his side's leading scorer before he hangs up his boots next summer.

"As far as I'm concerned, Alan Shearer is going nowhere," said Shepherd. "Knowing Alan, he will be seeing his contract out for the rest of the season.

"And isn't it nice that a player of Alan's stature is so desperate to play for Newcastle United and doesn't want to even think about missing a single match?

"It speaks volumes for the man. He is one of the club's all-time greats."

Shearer, who was taken off at half-time during Newcastle's 1-1 draw with a Thailand XI on Wednesday, is expected to be in United's starting line-up for this evening's game against a Kitchee side who will include guest stars Fabrizio Ravanelli and Marcel Desailly.

New signing James Milner will get his second outing in Newcastle colours, and team-mate Andy O'Brien has admitted to having been impressed by the youngster in Wednesday's tour opener.

The former Leeds midfielder might have missed a crucial penalty in United's shoot-out defeat, but O'Brien still feels he can be satisfied with his first run-out for his new club.

"It was nice for James to come on and make his debut," said the Republic of Ireland international. "I thought he did very well. I thought Robbie Elliott also came back and did very well again.

"There were some good performances from a lot of players. I don't know if it was because it got cooler in the second half, or whether the changes made the difference, but the tempo after the break was different."

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