From Sky Sports online:

Alan Shearer has a new ambition, and even though its a long way away, he and his manager are determined that he should score 400 goals before he retires.

The England goal machine notched his 300th career goal on Sunday and today revealed that his manager Bobby immediately challenged him to start on his charge to the next milestone.

Shearer grabbed his landmark goal with a blistering first-half free-kick against Arsenal, but Bobby Robson instantly sent him back out to close in on 400: "I said to him at half-time "Alan, we now need another goal from you. That will make it 301 and then if you get that, you'll get to 400 a bit quicker, so get on your bike."

Shearer later confirmed his manager's request, saying: He said at half-time if I got one more, it's one nearer to 400," he said. It seems a long way away, 400, but I'll just have to wait and see."

The relationship between the two men has been a major factor both in United's resurgence and Shearer's return to form. The #15million striker had scored just once from the penalty spot when Robson inherited a side which had taken only one point from the first 18.

The England captain is quick to praise the veteran coach: "The gaffer has worked a miracle to be honest and he deserves all the credit that he's getting because when he came here, we were rock bottom and we were heading for the Nationwide League."

Robsons impact was immediate, says Shearer: "He's picked everyone up, he's brought one or two people in that weren't involved and he's made all the difference. You can tell that people are enjoying themselves and they want to play for him, which is very, very important."

Shearer has four years to run on his present contract.

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2000