SCOTT Parker has defended Alan Shearer's role in the dressing room after Newcastle's record goalscorer insisted he would be a help to the club's next permanent manager, rather than a hindrance.

Shearer's influence at Newcastle has been called into question ever since former manager Ruud Gullit claimed the striker was hampering the club's development in the late 1990s.

Gullit, who famously lost his job the day after he left Shearer out of his side for a 2-1 defeat to Sunderland, accused the Magpies skipper of turning the dressing room against him and exerting a powerful hold over influential members of the Newcastle board.

Various commentators have repeated that criticism in the wake of Graeme Souness' dismissal, claiming Shearer's presence may make the managerial vacancy less appealing to potential applicants.

Chairman Freddy Shepherd will step up his search for Souness' successor after hosting a board meeting later this week and, while Shearer will be hanging up his boots at the end of the season, Newcastle's next manager could have to work with the striker for the best part of three months.

That could prevent him stamping his authority on the squad he inherits but, while others have questioned the level of leverage enjoyed by the Magpies captain, Shearer insists he is not a negative presence at the club.

"I am only going to be a player for three months, so it won't be a problem - not that I see it as a problem anyway," said the 35-year-old, who broke Jackie Milburn's all-time goalscoring record on Saturday.

"'Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but I was bought to score goals, and thankfully I've done that. Other people can say what they want.

"My job is to try my best on the football pitch, and that's what I've always done."

Interestingly, Souness never felt the need to criticise Shearer's influence and, in return, the Scot received the unstinting support of his skipper.

Caretaker manager Glenn Roeder was quick to seek the former England international's assistance when he was asked to take temporary control of the Magpies last Thursday, and also praised his off-field involvement prior to Saturday's much-needed success.

Shearer also remains popular within the dressing room itself and, after congratulating his team-mate on his record-breaking strike, Parker was quick to praise him for taking on extra responsibilities in the wake of Souness' sacking.

"It is good for someone like Alan to be involved," said the Londoner, who produced another dominant midfield display at the weekend. "He is a likeable player, a good professional and a lot of lads look up to him. It has been good work on behalf of the chairman to get him involved.

"He gives his all, he is an experienced character in the changing room and he was the same (on Saturday) as he has always been.

"Alan is a hero up here. People from London hear about it, but it is only when you come to live in the North-East that you realise how much of a legend he is, and rightly so."

Saturday's result has given the Magpies some valuable breathing space at the foot of the Premiership table.

With 18th-placed Birmingham losing 2-0 to Arsenal, United's two-goal victory has left them nine points clear of the relegation zone.

That represents a significant safety gap but, as last week's defeat at Manchester City proved, consistency remains as elusive as ever.

Saturday's trip to Aston Villa will offer a stern test of Newcastle's new-found steel - David O' Leary's side demolished Middlesbrough three days ago - and Parker admits that last weekend's revival will count for nothing if United revert to their former selves in the Midlands.

"There is a bit of Jekyll and Hyde about us," he said. "We have created chances and been brilliant in some games, but there is also another side to us which is very poor.

"Top sides would have struggled with us in the first half of the game against Portsmouth but, against Manchester City, we were nowhere near as good. We have to eradicate that from our game."

Parker is also looking for a repeat of the togetherness that helped to foster Saturday's success. All 11 players came together in a group huddle before kick-off, underlining the shared commitment to pulling the Magpies out of the mire.

"We have been together throughout," claimed Parker. "The boss got sacked in the week but, from the minute I came here, I saw a togetherness behind the previous manager.

"We took that into Saturday's game. We have tried to stick together when results have not gone well and we did that again against Portsmouth. Thankfully, we came out on top."

* Kieron Dyer will play in a behind-closed-doors practice match this week in an attempt to build up his fitness following his lengthy injury lay-off.

The Magpies midfielder, who made a 16-minute substitute appearance at the weekend, is hoping to be in contention for a starting spot by the end of the week.

And, after battling against an illness that was exacerbating his hamstring complaints, the England international has thanked the St James' Park crowd for the rousing reception he received at the weekend.

"I feel a lot stronger and I'm hoping to get a run of games now to help us up the table," said Dyer. "The gaffer (Roeder) is going to arrange a couple of behind-closed-doors games for me during the week that will hopefully build up my stamina.

"I was very thankful for the ovation I got against Portsmouth. Since I have been injured and since it came out that I had a health problem, the fans have been sending me 'Get well' messages.

"They have been behind me and it was nice to make my comeback at St James' Park."

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