ALAN SHEARER will return to the Newcastle United dug-out for the first time in seven years when he helps celebrate 20 years of the 'Entertainers' this October, writes Peter Mann.

Shearer, who ended his brief tenure as Newcastle boss in May 2009, will be joining forces with a number of other Magpies legends at 'The Entertainers 20th Anniversary Game' on October 9.

He has been tempted back, for one game only, to manage a Newcastle Legends side that will take on a Manchester United XI to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 'Howay 5-Oh' game that famously saw the Magpies thrash

Sir Alex Ferguson's side 5-0 in October 1996. The match will raise funds for the Alan Shearer Foundation.

Keith Gillespie will be selecting a Manchester United XI, with Shearer's former strike partner, Les Ferdinand, also having confirmed his participation.

Shearer said: "I don't think I'll be player-manager, my body is not as good as it used to be.

"With Les in the dug-out with me, I'm sure I can get the likes of Rob (Lee) and Bez (John Beresford) involved. Rob though needs a good three months to get fit!"

Shearer helped set up the game with Steve Wraith, of Newcastle Legends, and the pair are delighted to be staging the match at Newcastle Falcons' Kingston Park ground.

Wraith said: "It took a little persuading but I'm glad he's going to be in the dugout as manager of the Newcastle Legends. I'm pleased both he, and Keith who'll select the Manchester side, have agreed to do this."

The Alan Shearer Centre, a specialist recreational facility for disabled people of all ages, will benefit from the event, which will feature Paul Ince and David May playing for the Manchester United side.

Tickets for the game, which takes place on October 9 and kicks off at 1.30pm (gates open at 12 noon), are available now priced at £10 for adults and £5 for children, corporate packages are also available.

Tickets can be purchased from www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk or on the ticket hotline of 0871 2266060. For corporate packages, call 0191 2142892.