If people are going to write bad things about me because it makes news, I can brush it aside because I've had this for 10 years. I'm big enough and strong enough to cope with it. It's what comes with being Alan Shearer.

As a kid I always wanted to be a centre-forward. I wanted the buzz and thrill of scoring goals from an early age.

I always dreamed about scoring at St. James' Park. I fancied my chances and the ball flew into the net. I was ecstatic.

I spend time with my family. I have got two daughters who are too young to know their Dad's a footballer. They just want to play with their Dad. I like to play golf, too, but apart from that, that's me, I'm afraid.

I've turned down Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus and Manchester United to play here. I hope everyone already knows how much it means to me to play for Newcastle United.

If you take the money away, a lot of the footballers would still be playing football. So, the money has nothing to do with it.

If you ask footballers to pick out the player they most admire, so many of them will pick Paul Scholes. His passing and shooting is of the highest level and he’s the most consistent and naturally gifted player we’ve had for a long, long time.