Glenn Roeder has played down speculation linking him with Zenit St Petersburg hitman Alexander Kerzhakov, and is confident Shola Ameobi (who scored seven times in 16 starts for him at the end of last season) is ready to take over Shearer's mantle.
Roeder: "I think he played in every game I was involved in last year when he was fit, and he showed what a good striker he is leading the line. The first thing you have to look at with a striker is does he score goals, because that is what he's paid to do.
"A return of a goal every two games is of the highest quality in the Premiership.
"It's all about controlled aggression. I do not want him to pick up more yellow cards, I do not want him to be sent off, but I want controlled aggression.
"He should be a player central defenders are looking at just before kick-off thinking, 'I am going to have a hard day today. I am playing against Shola Ameobi - whether he scores or not, I know I am going to have a hard day'.
"He has not always done that - he will be the first to admit it. But he is a good listener, a very, very intelligent lad and I think he can have that split personality of being a rough, tough, mean, horrible person to play against and that lovely lad off the pitch.
"He is a very sensitive and nice man with a great family, but he needs to go from one to the other."