Alan Shearer considers overhaul of Newcastle side for Liverpool match

Apr 30 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

It may be an uphill battle that Newcastle face but their supporters obviously believe that the club’s hopes of staying up will still be alive on the final day of the season.

The last of the 3,000 tickets that United have for the trip to Villa Park were sold yesterday – giving Shearer further encouragement that the fans will not give up on their survival battle.

Shearer’s cause is unlikely to be boosted by the return of Jose Enrique, however. The Spaniard’s hamstring injury was being assessed by the club yesterday – but he is definitely out of the Anfield game.

United are carrying out further tests before deciding whether the only left-back in the squad will play again this season.

His injury leaves United’s

boss shuffling his pack again before another important game. “We can’t get our heads down,” Shearer told Newcastle’s club website.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done and we’re still in there fighting. There’ll certainly be no despondency and no one will be giving up the fight.

“We will go to Anfield in good spirits and see what we get. Obviously we go there as underdogs but we must believe we can get something.”

Meanwhile, Shearer will have to formulate a plan to contain Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard on Sunday after it was confirmed that the Reds’ talisman is expected to make his return from injury against Newcastle.

The England midfielder has been missing since April 8 but Rafa Benitez has confirmed that he will be fit to play from the start this weekend.

Gerrard tore Newcastle apart on December 28 of last year, inspiring his team to the 5-1 win that prompted Shay Given’s United exit.

“Steven is doing well and is training with the rest of the team. I think he will be fit and available for Sunday,” Benitez said.