Inspiration-Al for fans and players

These Chelsea Pensioners are a bit sprightly, mind you. Third-top of the Premier League and still punching in the European Champions League and FA Cup.

A bit better season than their bedraggled hosts, and that is in black and white.

However, Alan Shearer's dramatic and emotional homecoming has changed much. The pessimism has been swept away by a tidal wave of emotion and hope.

Geordies love to be optimistic, and tomorrow St James's Park will be filled with 50,000 roaring Mags willing the ultimate welcome upon one of their own.

Maybe, just maybe, this bunch of Cockneys can be put to the sword.

Chelsea boss Guus Hindink has a treble target, Shearer but one. Survival, achieved any way you like. Eight games, 24 points available, and a reasonable number required.

After Manchester United and Arsenal, the Mags need Chelsea like a punch in the solar plexus, but if a team does not collect enough points when inferior opposition come calling then they will be made to pay come crunch time.

However, the ultimate fire-fighter has arrived and that could just work in home favour.

There has been much ado this week about Fabio Capello turning his back on Michael Owen, but it is his club snub which has been the main talking point for the Toon Army.

Dropped by caretaker Chris Hughton against Arsenal and banished to a cameo substitute's appearance, will United's skipper re-emerge to lead his charges away from imminent danger?

No doubt the re-appearance of his old strike partner Shearer within St James's will inspire and galvanise Owen, who so desperately needs to make a point at the end of international fortnight. No doubt Owen would have buried the penalty Oba Martins missed at 0-0 against the Gunners, but his overall contribution away from potential goalscoring remains the tricky conundrum for decision-makers.

Owen did not take kindly to his Newcastle demotion, as indeed he ought not to have done, but the answer is not to merely operate on the periphery of the game, as at Hull, and be excused on the grounds of poor service, but to make things happen. Great players and great leaders are supposed to do that.

Excuses do not wash with the public or apparently Capello, whether the bone of contention is lasting fitness or impact upon a game.

Capello's preferred England system of one power player up front and Wayne Rooney in the hole interacting with Steven Gerrard does not suit Owen's assets. At Newcastle it is different, whether it is 4-4-2 or 4-3-3.

Owen knows he now has a club manager who passionately believes in him, and that makes a massive difference.

Doers are required as never before by Newcastle and that's across the board. Goal stoppers at the back, creators in midfield, finishers up top.

With every man jack working as though their life depended on it, as United's certainly does.

It was Nicky Butt who stated: "Newcastle have been going backwards for years. It needs somebody to come in and change things completely."

That somebody has arrived and, given license, will do just that. Enter Iain Dowie and new ideas. Exit Dennis Wise.

It seems an awful long time since Keegan took the Magpies to Old Trafford on the opening day of the season and fashioned a 1-1 draw against the European champions of Manchester United.

Much dirty water has flowed under the Tyne Bridge of more recent times, but perhaps Lady Luck has found a partner at St James's Park in Alan Shearer. May she smile upon him.

That said, a final plea to Mike Ashley - please do not stiffen the day by turning up in a black-and-white shirt with Big Al emblazoned on the back, waving around a plastic cup.

It does not look dignified and, in any case, lauding an individual has spelled personal disaster ever since you arrived.

First it was Alan Smith, who incredibly still has not scored a Premier League goal for United and has spent virtually the whole season injured. Then it was King Kev - and we all know how that ended in tears.

No, let the Geordie public put their shirts on Shearer. Ashley can make do with a scarf!