Shearer 'hopeful' Dyer can make it

131551 MAY 10

By Ananova

Kieron Dyer has told Alan Shearer his knee is more comfortable and hopes he can play in the World Cup finals.

The former England skipper admitted it would be "a big blow" if neither Dyer nor Steven Gerrard regained fitness in time. Dyer suffered a knee injury on Saturday, whilst Gerrard is rated "unlikely" to travel after aggravating a groin problem.

Shearer said: "I have spoken to Kieron on the telephone in Newcastle this morning and he said his knee is a lot more comfortable so that is a good sign for the World Cup. He says it has settled down so we are more hopeful than yesterday.

"He is an excellent player and he has that little piece of magic that can turn a game and on his day he can be a match-winner in his own right. "He is such a versatile player and vital for a World Cup squad because he can play in so many different positions - he is a world-class player without any doubt. I really hope for his sake that he makes it.

"If Kieron and Gerrard are ruled out they will be a major blow to our World Cup hopes."

But he added: "A World Cup has never been won with just 11 players, all 23 players are important to the team's performance but it will be a big blow if both of them do not make it."

The 33-year-old striker was speaking at the Alan Shearer Charity Golf Classic for the UBS Sports and Entertainment Group in aid of the NSPCC's Full Stop campaign and The Golf Foundation in Surrey. Shearer, who finished joint second-highest scorer in the Barclaycard Premiership with 23 goals, insisted he had no regrets about not making himself available for selection.

He added: "I feel that I've been vindicated because of my performance for Newcastle United this season. I have had three career-threatening injuries and I really believe it was impossible to do both jobs as England captain and at Newcastle at the same time, at least not as well as I would have wanted to."

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

Answers

A P ologies if this has already been posted. Clarky seems to always be first with any news!

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

Three quick points
1) AS & LKD were supposed to hate each others guts - I watched for this a couple o' time towards the end of the season and indeed LKD is not shy in showing his displeasure with AS at times but I think that is good. This post disproves that theory.
2) I think this post also shows AS is taking a higher profile within the management structure at the club. I put this contribution down with his comments in the sending home from Spain episode and something else I can't remember
3) AS isn't 33

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002