 Newcastle United have nothing but bad memories of the JJB Stadium - but Wigan Athletic supremo Dave Whelan is still raving about Alan Shearer. While the United skipper may not be on Arsene Wenger's Christmas card list he is still the shining light in the eyes of the influential Wigan chairman. And Whelan's remarkable tribute to Shearer comes just a week after the Wigan chairman put the boot into Michael Essien, claiming that the Chelsea midfielder should be banned for 10 games following his horror tackle on former United midfielder Didi Hamann. Whelan, who tried in vain to sign both Michael Owen and Scott Parker before being pipped by United, said today: "Alan Shearer is going to leave a massive gap when he finally hangs up his boots at the end of the season. "He is certainly going to be a tough act to follow, and for me he is up there with the all-time greats, a fearsome centre forward in the Nat Lofthouse mould, not afraid to take on anyone." The whingeing Wenger was far from happy at the way Shearer roughed up his timid defence at St James' Park last Saturday night, but Whelan insists it was great to watch for a neutral like himself. The one-time Blackburn Rovers full-back, who broke his leg in the 1960 FA Cup final against Wolves at Wembley before going on to make his fortune as boss of JJB Sports, added: "Shearer may have ruffled a few feathers against Arsenal but I thought he gave a wonderful battling display and the kind of performance you would expect any centre forward worth his salt to give. "Alan Shearer always goes out and puts his body on the line. He's a brave as they come, but what I especially like about him is that, unlike a lot of players, while he can dish it out he also takes it. "In fact, I would call him the complete centre forward. He is one of England's finest and dare I ask will there ever be another centre forward like Alan Shearer? "He has never given less than 100% for his club or country and he has been a wonderful ambassador for football. "I have met him a few times due to our sponsorship links with Umbro and, believe me, he is a heck of a guy. "He is the perfect role model for any youngsters starting off in any sport, not just football." Shearer, of course, goes to West Ham on Saturday just a couple of games away from the halfway point of his final season as a player, and needing two goals to equal Jackie Milburn's 200 for the club. Whelan added: "The Premiership will certainly miss him and I guess it will be strange not seeing him in a black-and-white shirt after the end of this season. "But I am convinced that he is the kind of player who will go on to become a top manager. Certainly he will not be lacking in passion. "I see a lot of Stuart Pearce in Alan Shearer and everybody knows how well he has done since taking over at Manchester City. "Stuart Pearce has been a wonderful servant to both club and country, and Alan Shearer is the same. "Yes, Alan Shearer is going to be a huge miss." | 
