ALAN SHEARER last night conceded that Newcastle United's hopes of returning to the Champions League rest on a fourth-place Premiership finish.

The Magpies' skipper admitted that the top three - Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United - are out of sight in the championship race.

Newcastle finished third last season, but Shearer insists they have already left themselves with too much to do this time to have any say in the destiny of the title.

Sir Bobby Robson's men are tenth, 12 points behind third-placed Man. United and 14 in arrears of leaders Arsenal.

Chelsea, who came fourth last term, are second and Shearer readily acknowledges that there is a "gap'' between his side and the new order. The former England captain was forced to miss Newcastle's last match, the 5-0 pasting at Chelsea almost two weeks ago, when he succumbed to flu.

He said: "I think the top three places are sealed. I think there's a gap between the top three and everybody else.

"What we have to do is try to get into fourth spot. It's been a long two weeks; to be beaten 5-0 and have to suffer and wait for two weeks to play hasn't been nice.

"Having Andy O'Brien sent off at Chelsea didn't help. I think it was a deserved red card, but I don't think Chelsea are that much better than us.''

Newcastle look to get back in the business of winning today when they host former boss Kevin Keegan's Manchester City.

Shearer, who scored after only 10.4 seconds when Newcastle won 2-0 in last season's corresponding fixture, said: "No-one will ever get fed up with Kevin coming back here.

"He knows we won't make it easy for him, but his side will try to outscore the opposition as they always do because that's his philosophy on football. I don't think it will be a 0-0 draw. And there aren't many guarantees in football, but I think we can be sure that I won't break 10.4 seconds!''

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