Forget Van Nistelrooy As "New Shearer"

 Freddy Shepherd can forget any hope of bringing the Dutchman to Tyneside. Sir Alex Ferguson has made it known the club will not let the star join any other Premiership club, and if he DOES go ... it will be abroad ... and he is looking at a swap deal for highly-rated young Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres.

In today's newspapers, it is reported Dirk Kuyt and Ruud van Nistelrooy are both names in the frame to replace Alan Shearer at St James' Park.

Feyenoord frontman Kuyt has long been linked with a move to England, while his Dutch international team-mate Van Nistelrooy looks set to leave Manchester United this summer after a bust-up with Sir Alex Ferguson.

Glenn Roeder: "You don't replace Alan Shearer by finding another Alan Shearer. Alex Ferguson has been looking for another Alan Shearer for ten years since he turned down Manchester United but his scouts can't find one. But there are goalscorers out there.

"We will find a striker good enough, confident enough and special enough to wear the number nine shirt. He won't be another Alan Shearer because we won't find one.

"But we have to find a player who can average 20 goals a season in the Premiership, one who will be happy to wear the number nine and handle the pressure that goes with it."