Shearer: "I'll Be On The Bench Quite A Bit"

Shearer found himself on the substitutes' bench for Sunday's 3-0 demolition of West Brom despite scoring the winner in the mid-week Carling Cup triumph over Grimsby.

It is not a situation that sits easily on his shoulders and typically Shearer came on in the final quarter at The Hawthorns and notched his 197th goal for the Magpies.

Shearer: "It was slightly frustrating but fully understandable. I fully understood the reason for why the manager did what he did. I knew this season I couldn't play every game. Up to now I have done because so I have been the only fit striker at times but the gaffer has made the right decision because the result tells you that.

"I'm not used to being a sub. It is something that hasn't happened to me many times in my career. But at my age you can't be picky and choosy. To get the best out of myself, and to get the best out of other 35 or 36-year-olds, it is impossible to play every game. He has to spare me at times and Sunday was one of those occasions.

"Thankfully I came on and Michael Owen got two goals and I got one so we were all pleased but it was tough on Shola Ameobi who had worked very hard before I replace him. I've had it done to myself where you've wore the defenders down and then someone else has come on for the last 20 minutes and stolen the limelight."