Soccer: Shearer likely to need surgery on hernia

NEWCASTLE - Newcastle United skipper Alan Shearer may need hernia surgery but the timing of the operation is as yet undecided, the English Premier League club's soccer manager Graeme Souness has said.

The 35-year-old former England captain, who will retire from playing next summer, is trying to delay any operation at least until the break for internationals in the middle of next month.

"He could go right to the end of the season without needing an operation but it could go and be that painful that it needs doing next week. That is something we are on top of," Souness said.

"We are hoping that we can get to him to the international window in November and his return could depend on where we send him, because different surgeons boast that they can get them back in different periods of time.

- REUTERS