Shearer postpones retirement plans: reports

Former England skipper Alan Shearer, seen here in 2004, has cancelled plans to retire and will play on for Newcastle next season

Former England skipper Alan Shearer has cancelled plans to retire and will play on for Newcastle next season, reports said.

The 34-year-old, who had planned to call it quits at the end of the current campaign, has negotiated a contract extension which will give him even longer to get the nine goals he needs to equal Jackie Milburn's club record of 200, the Press Association reported.

It is understood that Shearer will officially announce his decision at a news conference on Friday.

Persuading Shearer to play on has become increasingly important for Newcastle boss Graeme Souness with Craig Bellamy loaned out to Celtic while Patrick Kluivert has yet to persuade the manager the two-year option on his contract should be taken up.

Souness has continued to try and persuade Shearer, who both publicly and privately has shown few signs of changing his mind, just as he did not despite repeated calls for him to reconsider his decision to retire from international football after Euro 2000.

However, after reading reports earlier this month that suggested the striker had called time on his playing career by signing a new deal with BBC Television, the 51-year-old hinted at what was to come.

"If I was a supporter, I would not be paying too much attention to that story," said Souness at the time.

"He is keeping all of you on your toes, he is playing it beautifully. I am more than hopeful."