Shearer cancels retirement plan

Record chance
The 34-year-old striker had been due to quit football in the summer but has been persuaded by Newcastle manager Graeme Souness to sign a one-year contract extension with coaching responsibilities. The decision means Shearer, on 191 goals, should surpass the club's scoring record held by Jackie Milburn, who struck 200 goals for the north-east side in the 1950s.

'Right decision'
"I believe I'm making the right decision," Shearer said. "I probably haven't scored as many goals as I have before, but I feel I have contributed a lot more than I did last season or even the season before. People I spoke to felt I was playing too well to retire. I admit I was a bit hasty and I felt I couldn't retire just because I said I would."

Trophy hope
Shearer, who won the Premiership title with Blackburn Rovers FC in 1994/95, is eager to land a major trophy with Newcastle. As well as facing Sporting Clube de Portugal in the last eight of the UEFA Cup - a competition in which he is the leading scorer - Newcastle are through to the FA Cup semi-finals where they will play Manchester United FC on 17 April.

Distinguished career
The forward, who scored 30 goals for England in 63 games before retiring from international football after UEFA EURO 2000™, started his top-flight career with Southampton FC in 1988 and moved to Blackburn for a Premiership record €5.2m in 1992. He rejected interest from Manchester United to sign for hometown club Newcastle for a then world record €22m in 1996.