NEWCASTLE United skipper Alan Shearer is targeting a return to action in time to face Wigan in the Carling Cup on November 29 - with the striker still seething over the goal that never was at the JJB Stadium in October, writes ADAM MURRAY.
Shearer goes under the knife today in a bid to cure a long-standing hernia problem with the 35-year-old expected to be laid up for a fortnight.
Shearer was hoping to sign off with a goal against Birmingham City on Saturday with Blues the only current Premiership side he has failed to find the net against - according to the former England captain that is.
"I know I have still to get one against Wigan that counts, but as far as I'm concerned I have scored against them," said Shearer.
"We all know my header was over the line at the JJB Stadium. Perhaps, though, I'll get one that does count when we go back to Wigan in the Carling Cup.
"If not then in the league return at St James' next April."
His manager Grame Souness is hoping he may even make a speedier return, with full-back Stephen Carr almost back in full training following a similar operation last Thursday.
"Stephen was at the training ground running at three-quarter pace on Saturday morning.
"There's a lady who operates and she must do something different to everyone else because she gets them back very quickly. I'm hoping Alan and Stephen will be fit for a game in two weeks."
In Carr's absence, Peter Ramage has deputised, and impressed again on Saturday.
With Newcastle on a run of four straight wins, the Whitley Bay-born defender believes the international break has come just at the wrong time for the players in the current starting XI, but at the right time for those looking to regain full fitness.
"We have built up a momentum now, we have got four wins out of the last four games," said Ramage. "Maybe in a way the break has come at the wrong time, but in another respect, it's a chance for us to get even more players back from injury.
"Once they come back, the squad is going to be even stronger.
"We went into the last international break not knowing what was going to happen next, but now we have got that confidence from the four wins and hopefully now we can take that on when the Chelsea game comes around and continue the form."
Ramage admits the players were frustrated by Birmingham, with their five-man midfield cutting off the supply line to Shearer and Michael Owen.
"The fans come and they pay their money and they expect to be entertained, but teams like Birmingham are not going to come and let us play.
"They are going to stop us getting the ball to Michael and Alan as quickly as we like, so we had to change our tactics when they wouldn't allow us to pass the ball as crisply as we try to in our normal passing game.
"But the victory is more important than the performance."
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