Keegan plays down Shearer 'dream ticket'

Kevin Keegan has confirmed that Alan Shearer will not be returning to Newcastle as his number two.

However, Shearer could yet be handed a significant role on Keegan's staff after holding lengthy talks with the new Magpies boss.

A Keegan-Shearer dream ticket was the talk of Tyneside in the immediate wake of Sam Allardyce's departure earlier this month, and the 56-year-old's admission he would be talking to the man for whom he paid £15 million back in the summer of 1996 as he was officially unveiled a week ago sparked a fresh wave of optimism.

But the two men will meet again on Monday for fresh discussions having agreed that while the 37-year-old former England skipper could have a major part to play, it will not be as assistant manager.

Keegan said: "We had an excellent meeting. We talked in detail about this club - I know all his views on it now, he knows all mine, and we will talk again on Monday.

"It was great to see him again because I haven't really been in contact with Alan for a year, and I think we both missed that."

The Newcastle boss added: We will see what happens on Monday. It will not be as number two. But it will be, if he decides to come in, a very worthwhile role."

The Shearer situation is not one which needs to be resolved urgently, however, with transfer deals to be done before next Thursday's deadline and two visits to Arsenal to come inside four days.

Newcastle head for north London on Saturday for an FA Cup fourth round tie at the Emirates Stadium, and will return on Tuesday evening with three Barclays Premier League points at stake.

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