Alan Shearer took his first training session as Newcastle manager as he embarked on an eight-game quest to save the club.
Newcastle legend takes training for first time
Alan Shearer took his first training session as Newcastle manager on Thursday morning as he embarked on an eight-game quest to save the club.
Shearer, confirmed as the club's new boss until the end of the season late on Wednesday night, faces a baptism of fire with title-hopefuls Chelsea travelling to St James' Park on Saturday.
The Magpies are currently in the Premier League's bottom three and two points away from a position of safety with the spectre of relegation looming large in the North East.
Shearer has answered the SOS from his hometown club for the remainder of the campaign with Joe Kinnear still recovering from major heart surgery and the club drifting towards the drop.
The former England captain, who is Newcastle's all-time leading scorer having plundered 206 goals in 404 appearances during his 10-year stay on Tyneside, will be presented to the media at St James' Park this afternoon.
Live coverage
Sky Sports News will bring you the press conference live from 2.30pm and you can stay with
skysports.com throughout the day for all the reaction to Shearer's appointment.
Despite having no managerial experience, Newcastle owner Mike Ashley believes Shearer is the man to provide the necessary impetus to an expensively-assembled squad who have managed just one victory in their last 12 matches.
The Toon legend's return was completed after the club confirmed the departure of executive director (football) Dennis Wise, who many fans blamed for Kevin Keegan's exit last September, after little more than a year in his post.
Shearer has appointed former Crystal Palace, Charlton, QPR and Coventry boss Iain Dowie as his assistant and the duo will be in the dugout at St James' Park on Saturday, when a rapturous reception is guaranteed from the Toon Army.
