FORMER England captain Alan Shearer said he was “shocked and deeply saddened” after learning of the sexual abuse suffered by former teammates.

The ex-Newcastle United star and Match of the Day pundit said he had “huge respect and admiration” for the players who had come forward since news of the scandal broke.

Police say 350 potential victims of abuse in the game have been identified, including former Magpies’ players David Eatock and Derek Bell and ex-Sunderland striker Paul Stewart, while an NSPCC helpline set up in response received more than 860 calls in the first week.

Shearer, an ambassador for the children’s charity, said: "Over the last week I have been shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the abuse that colleagues, and in some cases former team mates, suffered.

“Whilst I am lucky and have no personal experience of the terrible stories that have been described, I know from my work as an NSPCC Ambassador the pain and lasting damage abuse can cause.

“I have nothing but huge respect and admiration for all the players who are now coming forward, bravely breaking years of silence in a bid to help others. They’ve carried a terrible burden for too long."

Shearer praised the FA’s swift response to the crisis and said football and other sports had made huge progress over the last 10 years in safeguarding children.

He said: "All clubs now have dedicated people tasked with keeping kids safe but there’s always more to be done.

“Every club – from the grassroots up – must continue to look at what they are doing to prevent abuse happening to any kids today and in the future.

“We must make sure that all staff and volunteers are aware of the risks and know what to do if they suspect abuse is happening. Parents can help children stay safe by following advice on the NSPCC website.

Shearer added: “As the weeks go on, it seems likely that there will be more people coming forward who suffered abuse within football, and they will need to be given our support so as they can get the help they need and should have had years ago”.

  • The NSPCC hotline is available 24 hours a day on 0800 023 2642.