Kevin Nolan asked Alan Shearer to come out of retirement and play when he was Newcastle manager to help survival bid

EXCLUSIVE

Published: 20:20, 16 Oct 2023Updated: 20:20, 16 Oct 2023

Kevin Nolan has revealed he asked his former Newcastle boss Alan Shearer to come out of retirement because ‘he was still that good’.

Shearer is regarded as one of the Premier League’s greatest strikers with an all-time record of 260 goals.

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Nolan signed for Newcastle in January 2009, with Shearer taking charge soon after in AprilCredit: Getty

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He still got stuck in with training, with Nolan keen to see him return to the pitchCredit: Getty

His strikes came across spells at Blackburn and boyhood club Newcastle, for whom he managed on an interim basis in 2009.

Nolan joined the club a few months prior but like the rest of his teammates, was unable to save them from relegation.

When asked on talkSPORT Drive which manager throughout his career was the best in training, he responded with Shearer.

“Yeah he got involved, he still could have played to be fair, he could’ve kept us up if he played to be honest,” Nolan said.

Even though Shearer he retired three years beforehand, Nolan insisted: “He was still that good, he was in great shape.

“I think I actually said to him, ‘You should play’. He used to bang goals in every time he got an opportunity, goal, goal.”

Andy Goldstein then joked if he said that to keep picking him in the side, but he replied: “No, because he didn’t pick me when I first walked in, I had to work my way in!”

Further adding to his compliments of Shearer, Nolan said: “Everything about him, his technique, his power, the way he hit the ball…

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Shearer was a roaring success as a player at his hometown club, retiring from playing in 2006Credit: getty

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Shearer’s tenure as Newcastle boss in 2009 was far from a successCredit: Getty

“I’m sure you could [teach what he had] but it would take a lot of practice. I’m sure that’s come from him doing it a lot when he was younger and continuing it and just getting better at it. But I’m sure a lot of it comes down to talent as well.”

Shearer’s interim spell at Newcastle is the only job he has taken in football management since his retirement.

His tenure was nowhere near as successful as his ability to score goals though as he won just one of his eight games at the helm.

The Magpies picked up five points from a possible 24 with their club legend in charge, and they were subsequently relegated to the Championship.

Nolan played in all-but one of the games in the Shearer era before staying at St. James’ Park for a further two seasons.

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