Former Newcastle and England skipper Alan Shearer admits he has not had time to miss football during the first year of his retirement.

The 36-year-old finally hung up is boots in May last year.

He has spent the last 12 months carrying out media work, visiting the projects which benefited from the proceeds of his testimonial year and travelling the world in his role with Umbro.

However, while he admits the buzz of running out in a black and white shirt has left a gap in his life, he insists he has not had time to miss much else - although not having to turn up for pre-season training was a bonus.

Shearer said: ''That was the one thing I did not miss. I have not missed the training - I suppose the thing you do miss is running out on a Saturday afternoon, you cannot ever get that buzz back.

''But everything else, I probably have not had time to miss, to be honest, because I have been that busy.

''But yes, it was an interesting time when the lads came back to pre-season and I was lying on my sunbed with a nice cold beer. I did remind them of that.''

He added: ''I don't know where the year has gone.

"My plan was to take it easy a little bit, but that plan went out of the window about three or four weeks after I retired.

"I have probably been busier this year than I have ever been.''