Shearer ready to let Owen loose in the box

May 10 2009 by Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun

“His experience of big games will help. We will be looking around at the experience that I can get in the team – it might be that type of game and atmosphere.

“I believe there are a lot of goals left in Michael.

“If we create chances for him I believe he will score goals, definitely.”

Meanwhile, Shearer is relishing the prospect of a different kind of “battle” with old adversary Gareth Southgate.

As a player, Shearer tasted defeat just four times in 19 games against Southgate . . . but the now Boro boss won his respect.

“I wouldn’t say we were particularly close, but there was a respect there for each other,” Shearer said of his long-time England team-mate. “We got on well. We didn’t have any problems and we were fine in training, but we had many battles over the years.

“We are of a similar sort of age so we came across each other in numerous games, and I think there is a healthy respect there, and so there should be. Gareth was always a thinker about the game. He always had his own ideas. It was a natural step for him to go into management.

“But he has got a tough streak in him, without a doubt.”