By Matthew Jones
March 18 2003

Sven has insisted that he was willing to give Alan Shearer an immediate England return - maybe even as soon as their Euro 2004 qualifier against Leichtenstein. However, United Skipper, Shearer has not ruled out any possible return to his National side. Sven Goran Eriksson insists he would have considered handing Alan Shearer an immediate return to the England squad to face Liechtenstein, but Shearer, who quit after Euro 2000, said: "I do not wish to be considered for future selection."

Shearer first of all said that he would consider going back to England, before changing his mind and claiming that he was only kidding.

Eriksson said: "With the way he plays his football, he could maybe be in the squad.

"But I can't pick a player who doesn't want to play. And the first thing you need to hear is a player saying he wants to play.

"Congratulations to Shearer for what he's done and what he's doing. But it's the future now, with Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006. It can't be Shearer. I was surprised when I heard about Shearer on Sunday morning - but I saw on television that nothing would be happening.

"I saw his game in Milan on Tuesday but I haven't talked to anyone about Shearer. So the situation is the same as when I came to this country. I accept it and the story's finished. Maybe the reason he's playing well is because he can take days off."

Meanwhile, the United skipper has been named the city's Sports Personality of the Year.