Shearer eyes toughest test

Newcastle manager Alan Shearer has admitted that the game against Portsmouth at St James' Park on Monday is the biggest match of his life. The Magpies' temporary boss has challenged his players to win their three remaining home games, starting with Pompey, to give them a fighting chance of survival.The financial implications should the club succumb to the drop would be unthinkable, especially with Newcastle having one of the highest wage bills in the Premier League.Newcastle currently sit second bottom, four points from safety, and Shearer has called for one of his players to make a name for themselves on Tyneside on Monday."It will be the most important game these players have played for Newcastle without a doubt and I suppose from my point of view as well, without question," he told the Daily Mirror.Target"I've asked the players to give me three wins in our home games, including Middlesbrough and Fulham starting with Monday night."There's a chance for someone to go out and I wouldn't say be a hero - hopefully we will have 11, 12, 13 of those on Monday - but make people sit up and say maybe Newcastle are going to fight, Newcastle are going to scrap for everything."I can't afford to look beyond this game but there's a real opportunity for a group of players or an individual to make a real name for themselves so that in 10 or 15 years' time someone may be talking about them."

Source: SKY_Sports