Newcastle United star Alan Shearer has dismissed suggestions that his days as one of the world's most lethal strikers are over.

The £15million man goes into tomorrow's FA Cup clash with City with a return of ten goals from 21 starts this season.

However his winner against Crystal Palace in the last round of the FA Cup was only his second in Newcastle's last 14 games and he has not scored in the Premiership since September.

Shearer's frustration during the current campaign has been evident and next week he will start a one-game ban due to collecting five bookings.

The England captain has suffered badly with injury in the last 18 months and has had long spells out of action.

Several commentators seem to believe these injuries have taken the edge off his game, but he is confident that he is as deadly as ever.

He said: "I've heard all the rumours flying around - I'm supposed to be past my best, to have lost a yard in pace.

"Well, everyone said the same when I did my cruciate ligament in my first season at Blackburn Rovers and was out for nine months.

"No, I haven't lost a yard since my latest injury. I feel as fit, strong and confident as I ever have. There's a lot of years left in me yet.

"My inner strength tells me when people have a go that one day I'll prove them wrong. I have real mental toughness.

"I was very strong over my injury. I always felt I'd come back. It was only a matter of when."

Despite the frustrating last few months, Shearer remains the most complete striker in English football and is the player who will pose a real danger to the City defence tomorrow.

Former Newcastle team-mate Peter Beardsley is also backing Shearer to end his goal drought.

Beardsley, who teamed up with Shearer following his arrival at St James' Park from Blackburn in July 1996, said all strikers go through lean spells and pointed to the lack of a regular partner as a partial explanation.

He said: "I haven't seen that much of him this season but he's still the top striker in the country for me. He's seen and done it all before. People say he's going through a barren spell but he scored the winner in the FA Cup the other week. People forget that.

"To be fair to him, I don't know how many games he's played this season but I don't think he's had the same partner more than three games in a row and that's not easy.

"Hopefully, from Newcastle's point of view, he'll be back among the goals soon enough. But I'm sure Alan won't be too worried by it and why should he?"

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