Alan Shearer believes that only Robbie Fowler or Michael Owen are capable of matching the 200-goal Premiership benchmark the Newcastle skipper established at St. James' Park on Saturday.

He led his team to a 3 - 0 victory over Charlton Athletic.

In the Premiership's ten-season history, Shearer is averaging 20 goals a term. The 31-year-old striker, defying the discomfort of a nose broken seven days earlier in the dramatic win at Derby, brought up his double century on his 306th Premiership appearance - a ratio of roughly two goals every three games.

Former England captain Shearer's first came for Blackburn in a 3-3 draw at Crystal Palace on the day a revamped top flight was launched in August 1992.

The 200th, which put the seal on this victory over Charlton, was typical of many the Geordie icon has scored down the years, racing on to a through-ball and rifling home right-footed.

A trademark Shearer strike it may have been on what was also his 400th start in League football, but this one, however it went in, was always going to be special.

How many more there will be, who knows?

But Shearer will make his record even harder to beat if the injury-ravaged body, which endured a career-saving knee operation under 12 months ago, holds out and enables him to play on at the highest level with his beloved Newcastle for at least another two years.

That is certainly his intention after being visibly moved by the ovation he received from fans and teammates alike at the end of a memorable afternoon.

His colleagues formed an impromptu guard of honour as he left the field clutching the match ball which is now on proud display in his trophy cabinet at home.

"I was delighted to get my 200th in front of my own people - and at what used to be the Gallowgate End," said Shearer, who as a 12-year-old was among the crowd on the old open terracing the day Kevin Keegan scored at the same end on his Newcastle debut.

It was Keegan, of course, who brought Shearer back to his native Tyneside from Blackburn almost six years ago in a then-world record £15m deal.

"The fans have been like this ever since I came back in 1996," said Shearer. "This was such a special moment - the reception was fantastic and something I will never forget.

"I'm pleased I've got the goal, because the longer the wait goes on, the harder it gets and people keep talking about it.

"It's going to be a tough total to catch - maybe Robbie Fowler or Michael Owen will do it. I'm sure they'll have an eye on it.

"But because I'm still going and will be for a year or two, I have the chance to get a few more." By a quirk of fate, Shearer finds himself back at Blackburn Tuesday when Newcastle go in search of the point they need to secure a top-four Champions' League place.

"Ironically, I thought the goal would come at Blackburn where I scored a lot," said Shearer.

"Now it would be nice to seal our Champions' League place there.''

By happy coincidence, Shearer's goal was United's 100th in their 50th game in all competitions this season - the last time they achieved a ton was in the 1992-93 First Division championship-winning season when they ended up with 105.

And on a day of Magpie milestones, Lomana Lualua scored their second goal and 5,000th at St. James' in all competitions, as well as their 4,500th - home and away - in top-flight football.

Shearer's 89th-minute goal, courtesy of a measured pass from Gary Speed, finally snuffed out the challenge of a competitive Charlton side.

It was midfielder Speed who had given Newcastle a 22nd-minute lead after Shearer's patience and guile had gained a corner on the right.

Nolberto Solano swung over the flag-kick and Speed emerged, as so often he does, to power home a header from seven yards.

And Lualua, in his first start this season, was in something akin to seventh heaven only 45 seconds into the second half, when he held off his man and turned to crack home an angled right-foot drive.

The seven-somersault celebration - he only managed three when he scored his first-ever Newcastle goal to clinch the 3-2 victory over Derby - was further evidence that if he hadn't made it as a footballer, he could have turned to gymnastics.

But this was Shearer's day, and Newcastle boss Bobby Robson said: "It's been a great day all round and the icing on the cake was Shearer's 200th strike.

"Now he's on for his next 100!"

Shearer has netted 23 this season and England's loss has clearly been Newcastle's gain since he sacrificed his international career after Euro 2000 to concentrate on prolonging his playing days with the Magpies.

The World Cup is looming, and Shearer conceded: "I must admit that one per cent of me wishes I was still with England.

"But because of the injuries I've had, it's impossible. There was a time when I thought 200 would never happen because I was very concerned about my knee.

"But I haven't felt it at all since I had the operation in America.

"I feel fresh and I've benefited from not playing for England. Newcastle have felt the benefit as well.

"I've got two years left on my contract and we'll have to make a decision in 12 months. "Hopefully, I have another couple of years left in me.

"But if I'd tried to do what Lomana did when he scored, it would have been 200 and out!"

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