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.

The FA Cup means a lot. There is a real passion here for the competition which you don't get elsewhere. It's a love affair. It's part and parcel of living up here. People might think I'm daft, but I'm not wrong; I'd rather win the Cup than the League.

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 would play in any number shirt for Newcastle United, but the No 9 at Newcastle is something very special and I've always wanted to wear it. I mentioned it to the manager, he mentioned it to Les and Les has been very kind and given it to me.

At times they don't like you to kick them and they feel you're not allowed to kick them.

Lampard picks his head up and knocks it out to the wing.

Newcastle fans never cease to amaze me. If there was a trophy for best supporters this lot would win it hands down every year.