By Nick Raynor
December 20 2004

Newcastle Manager Graham Souness today claimed that his skipper Alan Shearer is desperate to play and change the fortune of Newcastle.

Shearer is expected to make a return against his former club Blackburn, who he left in a record £15 million transfer in 1996. Graham Souness is also against the club he left to manage Newcastle and will be looking to take all 3 points back to Tyneside. 

Shearer has stated that he still intends to retire at the end of the season but at present, he is vital to Souness and Newcastle. 

Souness said: 

“You achieve nothing in life without effort and that is what we must show now.”

"We are having a difficult time and everyone has to stand up and be counted.”

"There are a lot of players in our dressing room who are really hurting over what has been happening to us and they want to put things right." 

The Scot went on to mention Craig Bellamy who was pulled out of the Liverpool game at the last minute due to a back injury. 

Souness said: 

"Craig got a bang just at the top of his backside at the end of the Uefa Cup game on Thursday and didn't train for two days.”

"He felt he would be ok to play at Liverpool but when he went out in the warm-up he said it didn't feel right and he couldn't handle it.”

"Every time he went to pass the ball or kick it he felt he was in too much pain.”

"I would think Craig would be ok for the next match and we certainly have a chance now with Alan Shearer maybe fit for the game at Blackburn.”

"He is desperate to get back and we are desperate to have him back and I think he has a real chance for the Blackburn game now." 

Newcastle have a large injury list with Butt, Carr, Hughes and Johnson all injured. 

Souness added: 

"I do not want to talk about the players who were missing because we had enough people in the side who are considered good players to be able to cope with the situation.”

"We have to stand up and be counted and we will see what we are all made of in the coming weeks.”

"We are under no illusions about what is expected of us at Newcastle, and now is the time for showing what we are made of."