Roeder pays tribute to Shearer

Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder has paid tribute to Alan Shearer.

With Shearer to hang up his boots in the summer after an illustrious career, Wednesday's FA Cup game at Stamford Bridge represented a final chance at silverware.

The veteran striker has previously been a beaten finalist twice with his boyhood club but has now seen his dream of collecting a medal in black and white disappear.

In ten years at Newcastle Shearer has never made a secret of his desire to claim a trophy for the North East outfit and now, courtesy of John Terry's winner it is very much a case of what might have been.

Roeder, though, prefers to pay tribute to the influence Shearer has had on all things Newcastle and has predicted that the club have yet to see the back of their favourite son.

"I am sure he would have liked a medal or two but I am sure it is not for want of trying as hard as he can,'' said Roeder.

"He is a top man as well as a top footballer. He has got great principles.

''He is a strong person and normally what he wants to do he ends up doing.

"Alan set his heart on getting into the last four but conceding an early goal to the Premiership champions disappointed us.

"But he won't want any sympathy. Alan is not a sympathy man, just look at his career and look at his life.

"He will shake himself down, pick himself up and work hard towards his retirement before he comes back into the game in football management.

"I don't know whether that will be in one year's time or six or seven years but Alan can still win the FA Cup one day. Why not?

"When he comes back into management, I am sure it will only be at this club and this club has the capability to win it even though the last time they did it I was not born."