Pro Eleven Headline News

Shearer in at the deep end against Chelsea

Five years ago this month Alan Shearer scored his 173rd goal for Newcastle United as the Magpies defeated Chelsea 2-1 and edged closer to a fifth-placed finish in the Premier League.

Fast forward to 2009 and a repeat result might just lift the troubled St James' Park club to fifth bottom but the club's all-time leading goalscorer must now rely on others to score the goals which matter.

Long since retired as a player, and with eight league fixtures remaining to save Newcastle's top flight status, the former England captain welcomes Chelsea to Tyneside as a rookie manager looking to guide his hometown team to safety.

It would be a tall order for even the most experienced of coaches. Yet, unlike Saturday's opposite number Guus Hiddink, Shearer has no managerial experience whatsoever.

Whereas Chelsea's celebrated coach has six Dutch league titles and two fourth-place finishes at the World Cup under his belt, Newcastle's fourth manager this season has yet to acquire his UEFA Pro Licence.

It is a contrast not lost on the iconic figure appointed to save United from relegation in the absence of Joe Kinnear, the erstwhile Magpies' manager forced to take a temporary leave of absence following heart surgery.

"I don't have the experience but I'll have to learn pretty quickly," admitted Newcastle's record goalscorer.

"I'll speak to Kevin (Keegan), I'll speak to Kenny (Dalglish), I'll speak to Bobby (Robson), I?ll speak to Terry (Venables) and speak to Glenn Hoddle and then we'll see after that. I think it's important I tap into all the experience I can. I'm going to need it."

After all of those telephone conversations Shearer will also need to find the time to pick a team to face a Chelsea side suddenly back in the hunt for the Premier League title.

He also needs time to adjust to life as the man behind the team and behind the scenes, rather than the high profile individual who, for so many years, was revered as the heartbeat of a Newcastle squad which briefly flirted with Champions League football and title challenges.

Shearer's reputation as a United legend is untarnished for now - but what price his stock falling dramatically should this unforeseen experiment with management go horribly wrong?

"How this job will affect my own reputation is a question I?d like to stay away from," he added. "It's getting me involved in the whole thing again and I must stress this is about Newcastle United and not Alan Shearer. I had a reputation as a player and now that's gone.

"I'm moving onto something different. I'll be judged over the next eight games as every single manager is. Whether you like it or not, whether it's good, bad, pretty, ugly - in football you're judged on results.

"And I'll be no different. I've not come into this with my eyes shut. I know what the stakes are."

The stakes are incredibly high and the price of failure, both for Shearer and Newcastle United, cannot be judged in terms simply of finance.

Reputations, as well as fortunes, are on the line but at least the Magpies' latest boss looks set to include former England team-mate Michael Owen on his first team sheet following the striker's successful return to full training.

"Michael was one of the players I spoke to on my first morning and you?d expect that I would speak to the captain of this club," said Shearer.

"If he's fit he will start against Chelsea. It's well known that he's had his fair share of injuries but his goalscoring record is fabulous.

"I think a club in this position needs goals. We've got a great goalscorer here to get them."

For Chelsea, the Shearer factor is something the Londoners could have done without having hauled themselves back into title contention - or at least gained from Manchester United's recent lapses.

"It will be a lot harder for us now," said Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard.

"You can imagine the atmosphere up there - Shearer is a god to Newcastle fans and rightly so. I'm sure he'll get the fans going and the players going." AFP



Puyol And Iniesta Fit For Barcelona's Trip To Valladolid

Carles Puyol and Andres Iniesta will both be fit to face Valladolid this weekend and have been included in Barcelona's squad for the game.

The pair have both suffered from injuries lately and missed the international fixtures with Spain.

However, they look to have come back at the perfect time for Barcelona and will be available to play this Saturday evening.

Marca reports that both players have trained normally in the last few days and will now be at the disposal of Pep Guardiola.

Puyol has been out for almost month after suffering an injury against Athletic Bilbao whilst Iniesta was injured against Malaga.

The midfielder had to return to Barcelona instead of traveling with the Spanish national squad, and Valencia youngster, Juan Mata, took his place in the pool.

Whilst Iniesta and Puyol can play though, Yaya Toure will not be available after he suffered a knock whilst with the Ivory Coast.

Aliaksandr Hleb is also not included in the squad due to a slight injury whilst Dani Alves has only returned this afternoon from international duty and will train on his own.

Barcelona squad to face Valladolid: Valdes, Pinto, Puyol, Pique, Marquez, Caceres, Sylvinho, Alves, Xavi, Iniesta, Keita, Gudjohnsen, Sergio Busquets, Henry, Bojan, Eto'o, Messi and Pedro. Goal


Mexico rehires Aguirre to replace Eriksson as coach

Mexico rehired former Atletico Madrid coach Javier Aguirre to revive the national team's World Cup qualifying hopes.

Aguirre's selection came a day after the Mexican Football Federation fired Sven-Goran Eriksson for dropping to fourth in the six-team CONCACAF finals. Only the top three automatically qualify for next year's World Cup.

Mexico has lost its last five qualifiers away from home, and Wednesday's 3-1 defeat to Honduras was the last straw for Eriksson, who lasted only 10 months.

The federation on Friday said it trusted Aguirre to get the team to the World Cup.

In 2001, Aguirre took over as coach after Mexico lost 3-0 to Honduras and led it to the 2002 World Cup.

He left Atletico in February by mutual consent after a seven-game winless streak, the Spanish club's worst start to a year in a decade.

Aguirre scored 13 goals in 59 appearances for Mexico and played at America, Chivas and Osasuna. USA today