Alan Shearer is expected to be banned for up to three Champions League games today, pushing Newcastle United's disastrous European campaign to the verge of collapse.

Shearer faces the UEFA punishment after television pictures clearly showed him elbow Inter defender Fabio Cannavaro in the head during Wednesday's 4-1 defeat at St James' Park.

Although referee Stephane Bre decided not to show a card for the incident and instead settled for lecturing Shearer and Cannavaro, who had earlier been booked for a foul on the Newcastle captain, UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Commission last night charged the striker after viewing video evidence.

Shearer could have any suspension for violent conduct reduced if it is adjudged he was provoked into striking Cannavaro by the Italy international, who clearly had his opponent in a bearhug before he lashed out.

But such leniency is likely only to extend to a one-game let-off, and that would still rule the 32-year-old out of next month's visit to Barcelona and February's fixture at Bayer Leverkusen.

If banned for three matches, Shearer would miss Leverkusen's trip to Tyneside, and with Craig Bellamy certain to be suspended for a minimum of three games following his sending off on Wednesday, Newcastle's hopes of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals would appear to have been destroyed after just 90 minutes of the second phase.

If Shearer is found guilty and punished Newcastle will have three days within which to appeal either against the verdict or the sentence.

A UEFA spokesman confirmed last night: "Disciplinary proceedings have been instigated against Alan Shearer on the basis of video evidence and he has been charged with violent conduct. A decision will be made on the case by UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Commission tomorrow afternoon."

Shearer appeared relaxed about his fate yesterday, confident that European football's governing body would find him innocent of any wrongdoing during a match that simmered with bad feeling from the moment Bellamy departed.

He said: "I'm not at all worried. Their player was holding me. He would not let me go and I had to try to get away.

"He was given a yellow card early on and, on another day, he might have got another for persistent fouling. But that's what you get when you play the Italians."

Sir Bobby Robson was clearly rattled when asked to compare Shearer's clash with the events that led to Bellamy's dismissal, arguing that his captain ought to escape censure because he was being manhandled.

But UEFA disciplinary bosses are likely to take a dim view of his actions, even though the French referee elected not to punish Shearer.

Bellamy will learn his fate on December 17. A red card brings an automatic one-match ban, and because he was sent off for hitting Marco Materazzi he will miss the Leverkusen double-header as well as the Barca game.

However, his suspension could be extended because of his previously poor disciplinary record; he was banned for three first phase matches for headbutting Dinamo Kiev's Tiberiu Ghioane in September.

Newcastle refused to confirm last night that Bellamy's indiscretion will be punished with a fine of two weeks' wages - the maximum allowed under PFA regulations - but it is understood the Wales striker can expect to be docked a fortnight's pay, or £30,000.

Chairman Freddy Shepherd said: "This is an internal matter which is being dealt with by myself in consultation with the manager.

"The player will be informed of the disciplinary action and the matter will then be closed as far as the club is concerned."

As Newcastle looked ahead to the December 10 trip to the Nou Camp with a mixture of excitement and dread, Gary Speed told his teammates that they must stop being their own worst enemies if they are to remain in Champions League contention.

Speed was one of Newcastle's better performers on Wednesday but even the Wales captain could not protect Inter repeatedly carving open the fragile home defence.

He said: "We have only ourselves to blame. The early goal we conceded just about sums us up at the moment and it put us on the back foot yet again.

"Our effort was not in question, but sometimes effort isn't enough and we've got to concentrate more. Inter are too good a side to let a 3-1 lead slip.

"We've come from behind before this season but it's a lot different against teams like Inter. With respect to Dinamo Kiev and Feyenoord, we're now in a group with Inter and Barcelona."

l Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira described Thierry Henry as the best striker in the world as he insisted his teammate was the leading contender to become European footballer of the year.

Henry took his Arsenal tally in Europe to an impressive 25 goals in 44 appearances with his hat-trick against Roma on Wednesday.

With six goals in the competition so far, he lies level with Ruud van Nistelrooy and behind only Hernan Crespo, who leads the way on nine goals, as well as Roy Makaay and Filippo Inzaghi on eight each.

Vieira declared: ''To be honest with you, I think Thierry is the best striker in the world because he can score the goals that make a difference. Even if he's not having a good day, he can give a pass or can still help us.

''The only way he isn't going to win the European footballer of the year, maybe, is that France didn't do really well at the World Cup. '