ALAN SHEARER’S number two claims it is “disrespectful” to suggest that Sir Alex Ferguson will field a weakened team for a match that could send Newcastle United into the Championship.

On the day that officials inside St James’ Park dismissed claims they could sue Manchester United United if they name an under-strength team against Hull City on Sunday, Iain Dowie backed any Ferguson team to be a force.

Hull are a point ahead of Newcastle going into the final day of the Premier League season and face Man United at the KC Stadium on Sunday.

But with United already crowned champions and due to travel to Hull just a few days before they defend the Champions League title against Barcelona in Rome, many observers feel Hull’s chances of staying up have hugely improved.

Dowie, though, disagrees.

He said: “To suggest they’re going to send us down by playing a weak team is just so disrespectful to Sir Alex Ferguson.

He knows how big this game is, he knows how important it is for the teams in and around the relegation zone.

“Manchester United send a team out to win every game, it is ingrained in their culture over there. They have to win.

“The Champions League final is huge for them but maybe some of the players they’ll play will need a run out for fitness or whatever.

“Looking through the possibles, Darren Fletcher will probably play, Paul Scholes might, Nani and Darron Gibson are full internationals, Federico Macheda is the best young forward around – there’s quality running through that team.

“We can’t worry about it, if we get our result we’ve got a very good chance of staying up. There’ll be a few twists and turns around on Sunday, I’m sure of that.”

Dowie’s confidence in the ability of what amounts to a United second-string is also an indication of the optimistic outlook the backroom staff are trying to ingrain into the squad.

While Newcastle’s position looks bleak ahead of their trip to Aston Villa, who have hopes of finishing fifth, Dowie admits now is not the time for dwelling too much on the past.

Instead Dowie said: “It’s imperative that we stay positive.

Whatever you say about Saturday’s game against Fulham we had loads of chances.

“I would say we had four gilt edged opportunities to score and if any one of those goes in the whole situation changes. Things haven’t gone our way with a referee’s decisions either.

“We will be very, very positive against a very, very strong Villa side. We have got to make sure we go there wellorganised and with the right attitude to try and get something.”

With Newcastle’s top-flight status the only concern at this stage, it remains to be seen what will happen at the end of the season with Dowie and Shearer once their initial eight-match contracts expire.

There remains belief that both will remain at St James’ Park, although there is now also a question mark over the future of Academy director Richard Money.

Money is thought to have been short-listed for the vacant manager’s position at Port Vale, with the League Two outfit looking to make an appointment within the week.