GRAEME Souness is hoping that the lure of becoming Newcastle's greatest ever striker could yet persuade Alan Shearer to reverse his decision to retire at the end of the season.

Shearer reached another milestone last night when he blasted home Newcastle's ninth-minute opener at Manchester City to become the first player to score 250 goals in the Premiership.

Seven of those have come this season and, with Craig Bellamy now unavailable and Patrick Kluivert repeatedly disinterested, the 34-year-old is likely to offer United's only scoring threat between now and the end of the season. The final-day showdown with champions elect Chelsea is due to mark the end of Shearer's playing days, with the United skipper still claiming he is ready to hang up his boots in May.

But, with Jackie Milburn's all-time goalscoring record in his sights, Souness is hoping that Shearer can still be talked out of retirement.

Last night's strike was Shearer's 186th in a black and white shirt and, with just 14 more goals needed to equal Milburn's tally, the prospect of re-writing Newcastle history could yet prove too tempting to resist.

"I haven't given up hope of persuading him to play on," admitted Souness. "There's a special record that is very much within his grasp and, in my opinion, he'd be wrong not to go for it.

"His attitude is brilliant and I want him around the place. Even if he doesn't play every game next season, I still want him around because of everything he can offer.

Last night's strike was a typically ferocious finish but, while Shearer will be remembered for a catalogue of memorable goals, Souness feels his great strength comes from being able to score every goal in the book.

"I think Alan's been the greatest English centre-forward of all time," said the Scot. "He's the best you've ever had. He's a scorer of every type of goal, be it spectacular strikes, like you saw here, simple tap-ins or brave headers.

"He's playing against defenders who are often bigger and stronger than him, but his never-say-die attitude is phenomenal."

Shearer would never have joined Newcastle were it not for current Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan.

The former England boss paid a world record transfer fee to take the Gosforth-born striker back to the North-East and remains adamant that he has been worth every penny.

"I would underline everything that Graeme's said," said Keegan, who was in charge of the Magpies for five years in the 1990s. "Alan has scored 250 goals despite having two very serious injuries in that time. Without those, he would probably have scored 300.

"He needs 14 more to beat Jackie Milburn's record and you wouldn't bet against him doing it on the final day of the season if front of his own fans.

"He's a very special player and, when he finishes, the game will be loser - not Alan."

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.