David Wetherall believes keeping England skipper Alan Shearer quiet will be the key if Bradford City are to improve their home record this weekend.

The inspirational defender will face Shearer when Newcastle United come to Valley Parade on Saturday bidding to continue their recent improvement under Bobby Robson.

Shearer has been heavily criticised in the past year, with many predicting the demise of a man who is the Premiership's second highest scorer with 12 goals this term.

Wetherall claims Shearer is still among "the best in the business", and says City must stop him if they are to notch up only their second home victory of the season.

He said: "Alan Shearer is a player who, throughout my time at Leeds, always seemed to score against them.

"I have played against him a few times, although funnily enough there were a lot of games against Newcastle and Black-burn which I missed - which is probably why he had such a good record against Leeds!

"He is very, very difficult to play against because he is very strong and uses his body well.

"Like Mark Hughes, he manages to win a lot of free-kicks in dangerous areas, which you have to guard against.

"Our fitness trainer Ed Baranowski has also worked with Newcastle and says that, on the weights, Shearer is amazing.

"He doesn't look that strong, but I can assure you he is. He is also very clever because he uses that strength well, but if you also hit back with strength then he goes to ground.

"People keep saying he is not on form this season, and yet he is up at the top of the scoring charts.

"Duncan Ferguson is also coming back to fitness and we will have to keep a close eye on him. On his day, he is very good."

Dean Windass is still facing a battle to be fit for the clash with Newcastle after missing last weekend's FA Cup win at Crewe.

The tie at Gresty Road was the first league or cup game Windass has not figured in, and was a result of an ankle injury picked up the previous week at home to Middlesbrough.

Boss Paul Jewell said: "Dean trained with the physio yesterday and has not progressed as we would like. He is desperate to play, but we'll have to see how he is by Saturday."

There will be a pitch inspection before tonight's reserve clash at Bolton (7pm) to determine whether the game will go ahead.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.