NEWCASTLE skipper Alan Shearer has vowed to recapture his old form after emerging from the "most frustrating'' period of his career.

Shearer made his first appearance for five months when he came on as a 75th-minute substiute in yesterday's Tyne-Wear derby at St. James' Park.

The 31-year-old striker underwent a second operation for tendinitis in his left knee and admitted he has endured some dark days as he has fought his way back to fitness.

But last night he insisted: "I can get back to my best. There was never any doubt in my mind that I would get back to what I was in the past.

"It won't be the next game or the one after that. It'll take a bit of time, but I will get there.

"It's been the most frustrating time of my career, but a reception like the one I got when I came on here makes it all worthwhile. It sent a shiver down my spine. I was blowing a bit at the end, but that's to be expected.

"In the last 14 months since I retired from international football at Euro 2000, there were times when I thought I was OK for four or five games.

"But this is the first time for a long time that I have had no pain in the knee. It feels great.

"Now it's just a matter of getting games and the sharpness back.''

With Newcastle losing defender Robbie Elliott with concussion in the first half, Shearer joked: "I thought I might end up as a centre-back - and I wouldn't have fancied that!''

Newcastle boss Bobby Robson was also in jocular mood, warning he would hang Nolberto Solano if he showed the finishing touch for Peru that was so sadly lacking yesterday.

The winger, who is off on international duty for his country's home World Cup qualifier against Uruguay on Wednesday week, fluffed a hat-trick of chances to bury Sunderland.

Robson said: "I feel a bit sorry for Nobby, that those chances fell to him and he didn't take one of them.

"If he comes back from Peru having scored three goals, I'll hang him!

"I hope he hasn't kept his goals for them.''

Shearer, who saw his late penalty saved by Thomas Sorensen when Sunderland won here 2-1 last season, said: "I tried to lift Nobby. I told him it could be worse - he could have missed a penalty.

"But he didn't see the funny side!''

Robson admitted: "We should have won the game. They'll be more pleased with a point than we are.

"We have to be pleased after losing the last two here to Sunderland, but we deserved the victory.''

Robson, however, was last night counting the cost of the derby duel, with midfielder Gary Speed nursing a recurrent hamstring injury which could keep him out for several weeks

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