Alan Shearer has faith in Alan Smith

Apr 25 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

ALAN Shearer believes Alan Smith has what it takes to salvage a Newcastle United career that is yet to properly get going – and his club’s top-flight status at the same time.

The only problem is, the Magpies manager still does not know if the versatile Yorkshireman will be fit enough to make his starting XI on Monday.

Nearly two years after his £6m move from Manchester United, Newcastle fans are still waiting to see if the 28-year-old can reproduce the form which once marked him out as one of the country’s most exciting talents.

But whether Smith (pictured above, with Shearer inset) is playing well or badly, his manager can always be guaranteed total commitment and an insatiable will to win. With midfielder Joey Barton unlikely to be risked against Portsmouth on Monday, they are qualities the Magpies desperately need. “Without doubt there is still time for Alan to make an impact here,” said Shearer. “He has tremendous attitude. Things have not gone as well as he would have hoped and as well as everyone else would have, but he has worked well and that was one of the reasons I gave him an opportunity at Spurs, putting him on at half-time.

“I loved his attitude when he came on. You know what you are going to get from Alan, someone who will work, fight and scrap, sometimes he goes over the top in those situations but his attitude is exactly what we have been looking for.”

Smith’s appearance was his first for a month and only his fourth of a season ravaged by an ankle injury. Mark Viduka’s appearance record has been similarly frustrating this term, while Obafemi Martins was returning from a groin problem at White Hart Lane.

Shearer is still unsure whether any of the trio will be fit enough to start against a rejuvenated Portsmouth next week.

One thing Shearer is more sure of is Smith’s best position. The former Leeds United player has been a victim of his own versatility since bursting on to the scene as an exciting centre-forward.

“I think Alan sees his best position as a midfielder now,” said Shearer. “I know he hasn’t scored yet for Newcastle so if he has not scored, then he won’t say he is a centre-forward. If you ask him to play anywhere, he will do it without complaining. He is that type of character.”

Another player who had his ego massaged by Shearer this week was captain Michael Owen. The forward has not scored in his last eight games but while refusing to let the praise from his former strike partner go to his head, remains confident in his own ability.

“It’s nice when people say nice things about you but, regardless, I will wake up in the morning and know where I stand in terms of my performances, my standing in the game, the goals I will score given the opportunities and everything else,” he told the club’s official website.

“It’s certainly a game (on Monday) that I could do with finding the goal-scoring touch.”