ALAN Shearer must have thought he'd seen it all since bursting on to the scene as a raw 17-year-old down at Southampton.

A hat-trick on his debut as a teenager, the first man to score 30 Premier League goals in three successive seasons during the 90s, and 30 goals for England in 63 internationals before his retirement from the national team.

But on Saturday the former England striker was waiting in the wings to launch a new career - as a centre-half.

The late withdrawl of Frenchman Alain Goma with a hamstring injury added to Bobby Robson's list of walking wounded and elevated the United skipper to first reserve centre-half.

Robson admitted after the game: "If one of the centre-halves got injured Shearer was going to play in defence."

With £10m worth of his defence still looking to leave Tyneside, and the future of the transfer system still undecided, it would appear that the skipper may still get his chance of a late footballing career change.

"We have Goma and Marcelino available for transfer, but we just can't do anything on the transfer front at the moment," said Robson.

"Nicos Dabizas is coming back but his injury has meant we have spent all of the season without our best central defender."

Newcastle were forced to field a very youthful back four with Steve Caldwell coming in for Goma, to join Andy Griffin, Aaron Hughes, and 24-year-old Wayne Quinn, making only his sixth Premiership appearance.

After an understandably nervous start the youngsters grew in confidence, and just as it looked as if they had repaid their manager's faith with a rare clean sheet, Newcastle conceded a late penalty.

In truth, it was the least Everton deserved. But for some woeful finishing they should have had the game sown up by half-time.

The Everton against Newcastle encounter has never been a classic over recent seasons - far from it - and this game failed to rise above the mediocre during the whole 90 minutes.

A brief cameo by Paul Gascoigne wasn't enough to raise the spirits, although his precise through ball in the dying minutes threatened to send Newcastle home with nothing.

Like last week against Manchester City, the first half stayed in the memory probably as long as it took the travelling Toon Army to reach the M62 at around 6pm.

The busiest team on the ground in the opening 45 minutes appeared to be the stretcher bearers, who were called into action twice to carry off Everton's Gary Naysmith and Alex Nyarko before half-time.

The game started nervously, and both sides couldn't conquer those nerves throughout the game.

The first of many run-ins for both sides with referee David Elleray came after eight minutes when Shearer felt he was baulked in the box by David Weir, only for his appeals to receive the customary shake of the head from the Harrow schoolmaster.

A minute later with the Newcastle back four playing a "getting to know you" game, Everton had the chance to open the scoring. A reverse ball by Kevin Campbell left Francis Jeffers bearing down on goal, only for the legs of Shay Given to keep Newcastle level.

The second penalty appeal came shortly afterwards when the ever-dangerous Jeffers seemed to get a yard ahead of Quinn in the box only to fall under a clumsy challenge.

Quinn immediately turned to the assistant referee and was relieved to see his flag stay firmly by his side.

Everton's best chance of the half came after a quick free-kick by Steve Watson allowed Gary Naysmith to get the better of Grifffin in the box and pull the ball back for Campbell.

With the goal at his mercy he somehow managed to put the ball well wide.

Just after the half hour Everton had another good shout for a penalty rejected when a Gemmill half-volley was deflected wide by the arm of Caldwell.

Newcastle were clearly missing the guile of Kieron Dyer, and Nolbert Solano looked a lost soul on the right.

Just when it seemed Newcastle would struggle to find any way through the Everton back line they were gifted a goal.

Shearer chased down Abel Xavier wide on the left of the box, and when the striker came up with the ball he instinctively shot towards goal.

The effort seemed a comfortable save for Paul Gerrard, but he somehow managed to spill the ball, which rebounded off the leg of David Unsworth and into the net.

The away fans erupted as Shearer celebrated in front of them.

Everton were clearly shocked and although they continued to create chances they continued to spurn them, with Jeffers particularly profligate in front of goal.

Their best hope appeared to be in the shape of Watson, who was causing problems on the left side of Newcastle's defence.

After 72 minutes his pinpoint cross found the free head of Idan Tal but the Israeli's effort was off target.

Everton fans had their hope renewed when Walter Smith threw on Gazza with just over a quarter of an hour left and the Geordie boy was greeted with cheers of delight.

But although he added more creativity to the midfield, and gave a lot more earache to the players around him, Everton's salvation came from the right side when another accurate cross from Watson saw Campbell end up in a heap on the floor.

After what seemed an eternity Elleray blew for a penalty, which appeared harsh in the extreme.

Angry Newcastle players surrounded the official and skipper Shearer, already on a yellow card for dissent, took his protestations a little too far.

Unsworth sent Given the wrong way from the spot, and it only left time for Gazza to drive through the midfield and set up Jeffers, who again found Given in the way of his effort, as he had done at the start of the match