ALAN SHEARER is convinced he still possesses the goals in his boots to fire Newcastle United back up the Premiership table.

But the Magpies' skipper insists that, after 18 years at the highest level, he is ready to move aside and let St James' Park's latest hero hog the limelight and the majority of the goals.

Shearer ended more than 25 hours of football without finding the back of the net at Blackburn on Sunday, one of his worst droughts since bursting on to the scene at Southampton in the late 80s.

But, embarking on his last season as a player before retiring, the 35-year-old revealed he actually felt more satisfaction watching £16m Michael Owen grab his first for the club at Ewood Park.

"Scoring is something I love doing and always have. It's taken a long time to get my 370th league goal, that's not a bad record," said Shearer, just six away from becoming Newcastle's highest scorer of all-time.

"But you can take whatever you want from statistics. I had gone a few without a goal but what does that mean? I think I can still score frequently at the highest level.

"I like the fact I am still getting the chance to put things right on the pitch. I'm too old for looking at stats. I used to purr over them ten years ago but they don't bother me any longer.

"I just know what I can do and it's a job I'm still capable of. To be honest, I was more pleased for Michael than myself. I know how much pressure he is under to score from the start and to score in only his second match was fantastic."

Shearer would hate to finish his career in May on a low and is desperate to see Newcastle make the most of Sunday's success at Blackburn by going on a winning run.

Saturday's fixture with Manchester City represents another opportunity for Newcastle to follow their first win of the campaign with a maiden victory in front of their own fans.

And straight-talking Shearer is adamant that nothing less than three points this weekend will suffice.

"It was a great win for us and one we needed badly," said Shearer. "We have to kick on now and go on a run of games unbeaten. None of the players should need telling that we are at the wrong end of the table. The table still does not look very nice.

"We can't have sporadic decent performances when you are as big a club as Newcastle United. What we need now is to keep in that vein of form against Man City and beyond. There's no point winning on Sunday and failing to do the same this Saturday. Three points are the only thing we should be interested in."

Shearer was part of a star-studded pro-am at The Wynyard yesterday as a prelude to the Seve Trophy, which begins in the North-East this morning.

The Newcastle striker, playing in Colin Montgomerie's team, which also included Ashes hero Steve Harmison, finished in second place behind Padraig Harrington's fourball, which included Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy.

Despite his heroics on the greens, Shearer is not about to swap professions when he retires from football in May.

"I don't mind taking up amateur golf when I finish but you wouldn't get me playing professionally for anything," said Shearer. "I couldn't do it for money. It's different to what you are doing on a football pitch, and when you go round with the pros they make things look so easy.

"It's nerve-wracking, even in front of a few people, especially playing with the big boys of the pro game.

"I had a few nerves on the first few tees, a lot more than I was expecting. It's great enjoyment but I wish I was better at it."

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