Magpies wait for Shearer fitness verdict
Newcastle remain hopeful that skipper Alan Shearer will prove his fitness ahead of Sunday’s Barclays Premiership opener at Arsenal.
The 34-year-old missed last night’s 7-1 friendly victory over Bray Wanderers in Ireland as he continued to receive treatment for a calf injury, and both manager Graeme Souness and his assistant Alan Murray admit he is a doubt for the game at Highbury.
Should Shearer miss out, it would leave Souness with only one recognised striker – Michael Chopra – available with Shola Ameobi suspended, and although he has options in the shape of Kieron Dyer and James Milner, Murray acknowledges that the captain’s fitness is a major issue.
“Alan will dictate how many times he plays this season,” he said. “If he is fit, he will be in contention. I know Alan Shearer will want to play every game.”
Like Shearer, keeper Shay Given missed the trip to Bray with a groin injury, and although Steve Harper, currently the subject of speculation linking him with a move to Fulham as part of a deal to bring Luis Boa Morte in the opposite direction, has proved himself an able deputy, the management team are hoping the Irishman recovers too.
“We are just wrapping them in cotton wool at the minute,” Murray said. “Had it been the first league game, they would have probably played.
“We are just looking after them and giving them the best chance possible to be fit for the weekend.”
New signing Emre also stayed behind with a minor back problem, while Inter Milan defender Francesco Coco missed out with a knock as the Magpies attempted to finalise a one-year loan deal.
Newcastle finished their pre-season campaign with a flourish in Ireland as they took their tally in their last two fixtures to 12 goals against lowly opposition.
Ameobi scored a first-half double and Dyer and Milner made it 4-0 before Francesco Georgescu pulled one back for the Eircom League side.
But Dyer’s replacement Charles N’Zogbia scored twice before fellow substitute Chopra completed the rout 15 minutes from time.
