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Lineker pokes fun at Shearer and Owen's feud in front of Newcastle legend

mirror.co.uk, 4 December 2021, 14:11
Michael Owen and Alan Shearer have had a well publicised feud following their time together at Newcastle but Gary Lineker has managed to see the funny side of the spat

Gary Lineker has made lighthearted fun of Alan Shearer's feud with Michael Owen after the Newcastle legend picked his greatest ever XI.

Lineker had asked BBC colleagues Shearer and Micah Richards to pick an XI of players whom they played with throughout their career.

Shearer began his career early on at Southampton before moving to Blackburn Rovers, with whom he won the Premier League in 1995.

He later moved to Newcastle United, where he would see out the remainder of his career and become the club's all-time reord goalscorer.

Eyebrows were first raised when he opted to leave David Ginola, the 1999 PFA Player of the Year, out of his XI.

Richards was the first to respond saying: "He's looking after his mates here. You can't not have Ginola. Oh my word."

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Lineker replied: "He's thinking about who is most likely to cross it to him. It's your team, I don't disagree at all. I think Graeme Le Saux is a lovely footballer, really good player... but Ginola."

Richards went on: "Something's happened there, behind the scenes. Something has happened between him and Alan. You know, not putting him in.

"There is an agenda with his team, I can see it already."

Shearer denied there being an agenda before Lineker pipped up once more, saying: "Let's see if Michael Owen gets in up front."

Richards added: "Yeah, I didn't want to mention it."

Owen and Shearer crossed paths at St James' Park for a period but things ended on a sour note.

The former Liverpool striker became injury prone as his career went on and admitted that he was counting down the days to retirement.

He wrote in his book: "At the end of my career, for six or seven years, I hated it [and] couldn't wait to retire."

That caused a stir with Shearer, who was at the helm when Newcastle were relegated in 2009.

He responded on Twitter by saying: "Yes Michael, we thought that also, whilst on £120k a week..."

Owen was quick to hit back at his former teammate, accusing him of making efforts to quit the north east club after being overlooked for selection.

He said: "Not sure you are as loyal to Newcastle as you make out mate. I distinctly remember you being inches away from signing for Liverpool after Sir Bobby Robson put you on the bench. You tried everything to get out."

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