Alan Shearer is refusing to set a target date for his comeback, but hopes to resume light training within a month after major knee surgery.

The Newcastle skipper insists that he would be putting himself under pressure by telling fans when he expects to return to action following the make-or-break knee operation in Colorado last week.

"I am setting no comeback date this time," said Shearer. "If I say I will be back in eight months and I return to the team in September, people will say I have come back too soon.

"But if I put a four-month recovery time and it takes eight months to get fit, then people will assume there is something wrong.

"All I am going to say is that I will be fit again, however long it takes. I know that a few doom-mongers have been trying to suggest that this is the end of Alan Shearer's career.

"Well, they're wrong - very wrong. The top specialist says there are no complications and when I come back - not if - there won't be any problem."

The former England captain added: "I should be in a position to start light jogging in four weeks time."

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2001

.

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2001

A very bold statement

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2001