Hoddle: England can rule the World with Shearer
DAVID BARNESGLENN Hoddle will thrust Alan Shearer into the thick of World Cup combat tomorrow with the words: "You are the man who can win us the World Cup."
And last night Hoddle explained the special plan he devised to keep Shearer under wraps for the big occasion.
The opening tie against Tunisia in Marseilles will be Shearer's first football in public for more than three weeks.
And Hoddle admitted "Yes, I have been protecting him.
"There are certain players in each camp who can win matches for you. Like Salas of Chile, Del Piero of Italy and, of course, Ronaldo of Brazil.
"Shearer is the man who can do that for us. To win the World Cup, you must score consistently and Shearer has proved he can do that at this level.
"He is vital and I knew he needed protection. If I had put him in a position where he could get injured, I would not have been doing my job properly."
Only a handful of people watching behind closed doors in Caen have seen Shearer play for England since he turned out against Saudi Arabia at Wembley on May 23.
He was left out of both matches against Morocco and Belgium in the recent tournament in Casablanca.
Hoddle added: "This is the sharpest Alan Shearer I have ever seen. Better even than he was before his injury. Sharper, leaner and more eager.
"I told him I might put him on against Belgium if things went well and he was chomping at the bit.
"But I didn't dare take the risk. As captain, he wants to play in every game but I want to put out a fresh Alan Shearer, totally focused mentally and physically.
"I can do that now. Whatever I have asked him to do in training he has done it and been spot on.
"There are times when I have had to rein him back because he was going for everything.
"In the European Championships he was under a lot of pressure but still finished as top scorer. That's one of the reason I made him my captain.
"This season he has been out of action for a long time and has taken a lot of stick at club level over certain incidents. But I am sure all the supporters from other teams who have had a pop at him will now get right behind him.
"I can't say he will score this or that amount of goals but he's looking the business.
"Shearer is never happy when he's not playing but he can't say anything because, as captain, he can't put himself first."
Graeme Le Saux faces Tunisia with the message: "I want to be in the side on my own merits."
Chelsea defender Le Saux is the only left-sided player in the squad after the withdrawal of Andy Hinchcliffe and Phil Neville.
He said last night: "I have talked abot this with Glenn Hoddle. I'm a player who is happy to be in the line up on my own merits rather then because I am the only one there."
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