Shearer reveals fresh frustration

Newcastle 1-1 Fulham

Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer admits the euphoria of Michael Owen's arrival has evaporated amid more frustration.

The Magpies scrambled only their second point of the season against Fulham on Owen's debut on Saturday, and remain second-bottom of the Premiership table.

Shearer said: "It was a case of welcome to the world of Newcastle United for Michael - he and I were feeding on scraps, we didn't create much.

"It was a frustrating day for us and it's a tough situation at this time."

Newcastle's cause has not been helped by a crippling injury list which includes midfielders Kieron Dyer and Emre.

Boss Graeme Souness's woes were increased by a hamstring injury to new £9.5m signing Albert Luque against the Cottagers, which could keep him out for up to six weeks.

Souness had even taken the step of taking Newcastle away from their unforgiving training pitches in the run-up to the Fulham game in an attempt to protect his players from injury.

You don't get anything feeling sorry for yourself Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer

And Shearer said: "The injury to Albert Luque didn't help us. We were already without a right-winger and in the end we finished up with no right-winger and no left winger. We were back to square one.

"We know Luque can provide both from open play and set pieces with his left foot.

"He can open teams up but with the way our luck has gone at the moment, he has picked up an injury and looks like he will be out for a while.

"The injury situation is incredible and we're scratching our heads to work out why it is happening.

"We come up with a reason and then another injury comes along.

"But you don't get anything feeling sorry for yourself and we just have to get on with it and hope our luck changes."