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

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.

One accusation you can't throw at me is that I've always done my best.

You have to go out onto the pitch feeling good about yourself. That can give you that extra 30 per cent.

I'm lucky and I appreciate that. I love every minute of every day.

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.

If people don't like my style, then I can't do anything about that. I have been like that since I first entered into the game and it hasn't done me bad in the past, so I am not going to change now.