By Alan Smith (Former Arsenal striker)

The Daily Telegraph
August 12 1996

I knew Alan Shearer would go places. I was unfortunate enough to play in the game in which he made his professional debut. Southampton trounced Arsenal at the Dell and the confident 17-year-old grabbed a hat-trick with the panache audiences all over the land are now accustomed to. Even then, Shearer had a presence that set him apart.

On paper, the Newcastle partnership of Shearer and Les Ferdinand should become the most potent in the Premiership. It did not work well yesterday, when Shearer had to wait until the 92nd minute for a clear shot at goal, sending a volley just wide. Before that he was restricted to a couple of headers, but it was not his fault - the support play was very poor.

Shearer was feeling his way in his new environment. He looks slightly less than match-fit but he has not long returned to training after his exertions in Euro 96. Any heavy leggedness is understandable.

The new Geordie No 9 is more inclined to work the line of defence and hold the ball up. This leaves Ferdinand to concentrate on his preference for running on to balls played in front of him.

Before facing Newcastle, every central defensive duo in the country will have to decide who will mark Shearer and who will take Ferdinand. That is not much of a choice!

What has always struck me about Shearer is that nothing seems to faze him. There is an enormous weight of expectation on his shoulders at Newcastle but, as he strolled up the Wembley tunnel yesterday, he joked casually with his former Blackburn team-mate, David May, as if he was going out for a kick about.

It was evident that nobody had been assigned to mark the £15 million man. Gary Pallister and May stayed to their respective sides and picked up whichever striker came their way. There were glimpses of an understanding developing between Newcastle’s centre-forwards, but you had to be quick to spot them. A nice one-two nearly put Shearer through on goal but Ferdinand’s pass was not quite accurate enough.

Partnerships always take time to click. This one is no different. But with two players of such pedigree it will not take long.

As I travelled to Wembley, I saw a sign in a supporters’ coach which proclaimed: ‘Alan Shearer: Prince of Strikers’. Yesterday, it was King Eric who took centre-stage. But there is no doubt that, on plenty of occasions this season, Shearer will have his day.