"I should say for the purposes of the record that I think he's been a fantastic servant for Newcastle United and is a great player and a great man," Blair said at his monthly press conference in London.

Former England captain Shearer, 35, had been due to bring down the curtain on his goal-laden career at the end of the current season.

But the Magpies skipper suffered a knee ligament injury in Newcastle's 4-1 derby win at deadly rivals Sunderland on April 17, which ruled him out of the rest of the current campaign.

Asked if there were any lessons he could draw from Shearer's decision to call it a day before his planned retirement, Blair said: "My knees are fine. My knees are in great working order."