Source: Eurosport
We're up for the battle - Shearer
Alan Shearer is confident his struggling Newcastle side have proved they are ready to battle to preserve their Premier League status.The Magpies legend, appointed as manager for the final eight games of the season, picked up his first point with a 1-1 draw at Stoke City last weekend courtesy of Andy Carroll's late header.After losing to Chelsea in Shearer's first match, Newcastle now have six fixtures left in which to overcome the two-point deficit which currently separates them from a position of safety.Next on the agenda is Sunday's trip to Tottenham by which time the gap could have grown with many of their relegation rivals in action on Saturday.But Shearer feels the display in the closing stages at the Britannia Stadium will stand his troops in good stead for the remainder of the campaign.He told Sky Sports News: "I think in the last half hour we proved not only that we are up for the battle, the fight and the scrap, but also that we can play a little bit as well, which has given everyone a big, big lift."It would have been a very long week coming back from that game with nothing, but we got a point so it has been a decent week for us.He added in the Evening Chronicle: "As far as bravery is concerned, I don't think that will ever be in question. I hope to see it again at Tottenham."They showed great desire and fighting spirit in training, and now they've taken that into a game. Hopefully we can go on to bigger and better things."Shearer, who also has Mark Viduka back in the squad, has hinted that striker Carroll could be handed a starting role after his goalscoring display.The Magpies boss said: "He'll be in contention. I said to him and all the players that they've got a huge role to play, go and prove it."I said to Andy go and make a mark out there when we were standing on the touchline and he's done that."[LNB]
