By Matthew Jones
September 30 2002

After Bobby Robson hinted that he would consider giving Shearer a rest during the Juventus clash tomorrow, Alan Shearer isn't having any of it. "The manager will judge me on my performances. I don't think I look tired. I don't think I am playing as if I am tired. I don't want to be left out." Alan Shearer has told Sir Bobby Robson not to rest him as Newcastle look to revive their flagging Champions League ambitions against Juventus. Remember, Newcastle haven't won a Champions League game yet this season, and resting our star striker won't help us!

Magpies manager Robson intimated last week that he was prepared to give the former England skipper a break in order to avoid burnout - but Shearer is having none of it.

Shearer said: "The manager will judge me on my performances. I don't think I look tired. I don't think I am playing as if I am tired. I don't want to be left out. I don't want a rest until it's impossible for us either to qualify for the second phase of the Champions League or cannot make the Uefa Cup. If it's a lost cause we are battling, then it might be a different matter - but I don't want to be rested in any game. I feel strong and I feel fit and hopefully my performances are suggesting that."

Newcastle travel to Italy on Monday looking to salvage what is left of their disappointing Champions League campaign, having lost consecutive games against Dynamo Kiev and Feyenoord. And Shearer knows that only a win will do if the Magpies are to progress.

He added: "We need a win in Italy, there's no doubt about that. If we don't get a win on Tuesday then we can kiss goodbye to the second phase of the Champions League. We've lost the first two games and people have written us off. That's only natural. People will say Newcastle have been naive and not ready for Europe and perhaps we have been a little naive. But you only get over that by learning and playing in these competitions. We'll get better. It takes time but we haven't got time. We have to improve and get a result from somewhere."