Alan Shearer'S worst fears were confirmed last night when UEFA found him guilty of violent conduct and destroyed his dream of leading Newcastle United into Champions League combat with Barcelona at the Nou Camp on Tuesday week.

The United skipper received a two-match ban for elbowing Inter Milan defender Fabio Cannavaro in Wednesday's disastrous Group A opener at St. James' Park.

Newcastle crashed to a 4-1 defeat and had Craig Bellamy sent off after only five minutes for lashing out at former Everton defender Marco Materazzi.

It means the Magpies face being without their strikeforce for the Barcelona clash and the trip to Bayer Leverkusen on February 18.

But Welsh international Bellamy won't learn his full fate until seven days after the Barca game - and the nature of his offence points to a minimum three-match suspension.

Shearer, who had appeared confident of being exonerated, will now be invited to top-level talks with chairman Freddy Shepherd and manager Sir Bobby Robson before United decide whether to appeal against the ruling.

Shepherd last night said: "All I am able to say at the present time is that I will be reviewing the situation with the manager and Alan Shearer in due course before issuing any further comment on the UEFA decision."

Shearer was convicted by UEFA's disciplinary panel on video evidence after initially escaping punishment from match referee Stephane Bre.

The former England captain was adjudged to have elbowed Cannavaro as he tried to free himself from the Italian international's bearhug.

Shearer had clung to the belief that the clear provocation would count in his favour, and in confirming their decision yesterday, UEFA admitted that Cannavaro's actions had been taken into consideration.

However, the statement from European football's governing body shattered Shearer's hopes of a let-off.

It read: "The decision was rendered on the basis of video evidence that showed the Newcastle player elbow Fabio Cannavaro, but also took into account provocation in the form of shirt-pulling leading up to the incident.''

Newcastle now have until Monday night to lodge an appeal on Shearer's behalf.

But Shepherd's cautious response suggests an air of resignation has descended on Tyneside.

Shearer, who also missed his side's last trip to the Nou Camp five years ago after he ruptured ankle ligaments on the eve of the 1997-98 season, was charged by UEFA less than 24 hours after the Inter game.

But he stressed: "Remember, he had me in a bearhug and I tried as best I could to get loose.

"That's the way the Italians are brought up to defend from a very early age.

"The referee saw what went on and called us over and chose to take no action.

"When he called us over, he said in good English: 'I'll have no more from the both of you, now both go back into the middle.'

"I'm not complaining about the way they defend because it's an art - a wrestling match. I'm a big fan of Italian defenders. They're the best and it's a man's game after all.''

The suspension is only the second major black mark on Shearer's disciplinary record.

He was sent off for the first time in his career by Uriah Rennie in a 1-0 home defeat by Aston Villa at the start of the 1999-2000 season, and then had a second red card rescinded after being cleared, again on video evidence, of elbowing Charlton defender Jon Fortune last season.

Shearer's loss represents another dramatic downturn for Newcastle in an amazing roller-coaster Champions League campaign.

Although he has never scored in open play in the competition, the penalty with which he clinched a 2-1 home victory over Dynamo Kiev kept alive the Geordies' hopes of qualifying against all odds for the second phase.

Now Robson faces the task of returning to Barcelona, where he spent two years in charge, with youngsters Shola Ameobi and Lomana LuaLua as his attacking spearhead.

Carl Cort could also find himself in the frame after recovering from the latest in a long line of injury problems.

* Everton, Newcastle's opponents at St. James' Park tomorrow afternoon, are on the trail of £3m-rated Norway midfielder Brede Paulsen Hangeland.

The 21-year-old, who plays for Viking Stavanger, has also been watched by Arsenal and West Ham.

He won his first full cap last week in Norway's friendly in Austria.