Source: Telegraph
Newcastle players back Alan Shearer's gettough policy
Goalkeeper Steve Harper and midfielder Damien Duff have backed Shearer's tough new regime with the club suspending Joey Barton following their falling-out after he was ruled out of the rest of the season following his sending off at Liverpool.[LNB]Shearer has also moved to boost discipline at the club with training invigorated to raise players' fitness and a series of fines imposed to punish poor time-keeping.[LNB] Related ArticlesKay: Barton needs to grow upNewcastle ready to sack bad boy Joey BartonTitle race is simplified by Rooneys latest salvoJoey Barton has let everyone at Newcastle United down, says Alan ShearerAlan Shearer says Newcastles clash with Middlesbrough will decide relegation battleLiverpool great Kenny Dalglish kept in dark over possible Anfield role"It's been very positive, Alan has really tightened things up," Harper said. "He's lifted the atmosphere – although the fixtures haven't been kind to him and he's been missing a few players. But he's definitely the right man, it had been drifting a bit before he came in.[LNB]"If anyone can get us to win the next two games and go to Villa still in it, then it's him. Players respond to discipline and that's been needed."[LNB]Duff, who has been deployed at left-back by Shearer due to injury problems, added: "Whatever job needs doing for the team then I'll do it. Since the gaffer's come in he's brought Iain Dowie and the training has been excellent."[LNB][LNB]
