ALAN SHEARER is hoping to bring to an end his playing days by turning out for Newcastle United in a money-spinning testimonial game with Scottish champions-elect Celtic.

The Newcastle talisman, who spoke last night of how age should not be a factor in choosing the next England boss, will retire at the end of the season and has lined up a date with the Glasgow giants during the week after the curtain comes down on the campaign.

No date will be set until it has become clear just how well the Magpies do in the FA Cup, starting with Saturday's trip to Cheltenham.

An early exit and the testimonial will take place shortly after the end of the Premiership season, while a run to the final will see the mouthwatering friendly arranged for a later date.

Ideally Shearer would love to head into the fixture having become the first Newcastle skipper in 37 years to lift silverware and having scored the one further goal that will make him the club's stand-alone all-time leading scorer.

There is every chance that when he does retire he will return, at some stage, to manage the club he has supported all his life and the team he joined in 1996 when Kevin Keegan paid £15m for his services.

Shearer, who has never tried to hide a burning desire to make the grade in top-flight football management, has thrown his weight behind a young Englishman succeeding Sven Goran Eriksson after this summer's World Cup.

The 35-year-old did admit that talk of him taking over from the Swede was 'a little premature' but did not rubbish the claims entirely.

"Marco van Basten and Jurgen Klinsmann did not have any experience before taking charge of Holland and Germany," he said. "They are both doing reasonably well so I don't know how important that is."

And, while the prospect of England heading to the 2006 finals knowing the coach's future is away from the job bothers many, Shearer is convinced this country's chances of winning the World Cup will not be hindered.

"It did not affect us when Terry Venables announced he was standing down as England boss ahead of Euro 96," said Shearer. "Nobody really expected it to be honest but I am not surprised by the outcome. And no-one knows yet whether it is the right or wrong decision - only time will tell.

"Fingers crossed, if England go on and win the World Cup then it will be right.

"If we don't, then people will say it was wrong - we have to wait and see."

After another typical week of drama on Tyneside, when manager Graeme Souness was vilified by supporters calling for his head, Newcastle are at least finally receiving encouraging news on the injury front.

As well as Scott Parker coming through training for the first time yesterday unscathed following knee surgery, Emre and Shola Ameobi are also likely to be involved on Saturday.

And Kieron Dyer could be in line for a return to action early in February after stepping up his training schedule.

Dyer is understood to be making good progress as he looks to make a full recovery from a hamstring problem and a long-standing liver complaint.

The England midfielder will certainly not play this month but there is every chance he could be involved against Portsmouth on February 4 or the trip to Aston Villa a week later.

Meanwhile, Newcastle have moved to rubbish a suggestion made by Portsmouth defender Gregory Vignal that he is on his way to St James'.

A club spokesman said: "Vignal is not a player we are in for, nor have there been any discussions about trying to sign him."

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.