Alan Shearer faces the shock prospect of playing in pain for the rest of the season, despite an operation on his problem knee.

Newcastle fans assumed Shearer would be restored to full fitness following surgery and a nine-week layoff.

But the 30-year-old striker has confessed he's still troubled by the injury that plagued him in Euro 2000.

Shearer has been warned he will have to play through the pain barrier for two more months in a bid to hoist the Geordies up the table. He admitted: "I wouldn't be telling the truth if I said that my knee feels great, because it doesn't.

"It's stiff and sore and I was in a bit of pain after Saturday's game against Everton. The physios told me to expect this right up to the end of the season.

"I want to play and get fit, but I don't want to push the knee too hard. It's something I'll just have to put up with."

It's another shaker for boss Bobby Robson, who has lost Kieron Dyer until next season and has been without £7m striker Carl Cort for six months.

Robson said: "The surgeon told Alan that he is going to have some pain and there will be days when he cannot even train. In the circumstances I thought his performance at Goodison was heroic."

Robson has problems of a different kind with French defender Alain Goma following a training ground bust-up last week.

Goma and Robson allegedly had angry words after a five-a-side practice match and the Frenchman subsequently pulled out of the Everton game, citing a hamstring injury. "It was more than a surprise to me," said the Newcastle boss yesterday.

Goma and Spanish defender Marcelino are destined to leave the club and Robson is tempted to take a gamble on kids like Steve Caldwell.

Youngster Caldwell impressed at Goodison, despite giving away a controversial late penalty in the 1-1 draw. Robson said: "We have a little break before we play Middlesbrough on Saturday week and that will give us the chance to get some players back. Alan will have had two more weeks under his belt, Gary Speed will be fit again and Cort has a great chance of playing."

A first half goal from Lomana Lualua gave Newcastle their fourth Reserves League victory of the season and prevented Everton knocking Sunderland off the top of the table last night.

Lualua squeezed the ball home for the only goal of the game from a narrow angle after Gary Caldwell headed a Stephen Glass centre across goal eight minutes before half-time. It was just reward for third bottom United, who matched the high-flying Merseysiders all the way in a game of few chances.

Everton countered with Leon Osman lifting a close range shot past Steve Harper but a yard wide, while at the other end Glass rounded Thomas Myhre only to see the keeper recover and block.

The visitors had the better of the second half. In the 83rd minute Southern drove a 20-yard shot just over, and two minutes from time Israeli international Idan Tal looked a likely scorer but Harper blocked with his chest.

Newcastle: Harper, McGuffy, Bernard, G Caldwell, Beharall, McClen, Gavilan, Boyd, Lualua (McMenamin 68), Bonvil, (Coppinger 68), Glass. Subs (not used): Kendrick, Orr, Cowan