Former Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder has backed Alan Shearer to hold on to the reins at St James' Park.

Roeder has worked with Shearer in the past and believes he has what it takes to lead the Magpies past this current season.

"There is no way Alan will give the job up once he has started doing it, whether Newcastle stay up or go down," Roeder told Daily Star Sunday.

"I was privileged to work with him twice - when I was part of Glenn Hoddle's England setup, then at Newcastle.

"He is one of the people in football that I really respect.

"I would say to Alan, 'Grasp the nettle' - and I think he will when it comes to doing the job longer than just until the end of the season.

"Some people seem to have forgotten he assisted me when I first took over at Newcastle as caretaker manager after Graeme Souness.

"Alan was captain and concentrated on training and playing, then he got injured at Sunderland and was alongside me in the dugout.

"But Alan is not a No 2 at anything - he's a No 1."