Source: Eurosport
Shearer Close To Toon Return
Alan Shearer is thrashing out the details of his sensational return to Newcastle.
The 38-year-old was locked in talks on Tyneside on Wednesday afternoon as the club prepared to unveil him as manager for the remaining eight games of the season.
Shearer, owner Mike Ashley and managing director Derek Llambias were understood to be finalising the terms of the move before an official unveiling on Thursday.
Shearer is believed to be ready to appoint former Crystal Palace manager Iain Dowie as a member of his coaching staff.
Rumours of the former Magpies striker's impending return to St James' Park began to circulate late on Tuesday night, although the proximity of April Fool's Day tempered the excitement.
However, although there has been no official confirmation, it eventually emerged that Shearer is indeed ready to take on the challenge of trying to keep his club in the Barclays Premier League.
The news sparked a frenzy on Tyneside with television crews and fans alike flocking to St James' in the hope of witnessing a homecoming.
Thousands turned out to welcome home the prodigal son during the summer of 1996 when he completed a then world record £15million switch from Blackburn.
He spent a decade wearing the famous black and white shirt at the stadium where he had stood on the Gallowgate End as a boy, and retired at the end of the 2005-06 season having established himself as the club's leading scorer of all time with 206 goals, eclipsing the legendary Jackie Milburn's tally.
Shearer, who decided to launch his playing career at Southampton rather than in the north-east, was persuaded to head back to his native city by then manager Kevin Keegan and the promise of a genuine tilt at winning trophies.
Ultimately, the silverware never materialised and his mission this time around will be very different.
The Magpies, who face Chelsea at home on Saturday, are currently in 18th place in the Premier League table and two points adrift of safety with time fast running out.
A recovery cannot come quickly enough and the Ashley regime will hope his sheer presence will have a galvanising effect on the players at his disposal, among them former team-mate for club and country, Michael Owen.
Shearer played a significant role in luring the 29-year-old from Real Madrid to Tyneside in August 2005, and he will hope Owen can rediscover his lethal best form after recovering from an ankle ligament injury.
It is not the first time the sheet-metalworker's son has been at the centre of a surprise on April 1 - back in 2005, he chose that day to confirm his decision to delay his retirement and play on for a 10th year, during which he overhauled Milburn's goal tally of 200.
