‘He would’ve been brilliant’ - Alan Shearer denied dream striker partner at Newcastle United

Alan Shearer has revealed Wayne Rooney was the player he wished to have played alongside the most.

Ironically, the two were almost strike partners at Newcastle United in the early noughties. Rooney was fresh after a stunning Euro 2004 campaign that saw him propelled to superstardom with the British public.

A metatarsal injury to the then 18-year-old crushed England’s hopes but interest from the Magpies soon emerged. That sprung Sir Alex Ferguson to act quickly - scrapping plans to let Rooney stay at Everton for another year.

“It’s a strange twist of fate that, if Newcastle hadn’t come in for him he wouldn’t be here, he’d probably still be at Everton,” the legendary Manchester United manager revealed once he signed Rooney. “Once we knew Everton were talking to another club we had to do something. We didn’t think he was available.”

Rooney’s adulation for Shearer was one of the reasons that attracted the striker to St James’ Park. The deal - worth around £20million - was so close to being completed that he agreed to join Newcastle under the condition Man United could buy him a year later.

“I knew (joining Man United) was an option before Euro 2004,” Rooney said three years ago. “I knew Manchester United wanted to sign me. They actually wanted to wait a year, until the following year, but then Newcastle came into talks with Everton and with me.

“I'd gone too far then. I couldn't wait another year, I couldn't stay another year at Everton, so I was prepared to go to Newcastle for that year. I spoke to them, we spoke about salary and what I wanted if I went there was, after a year, if Manchester United come in, you have to let me go.

“Newcastle were agreeing to that but, obviously, with Man United, I went back to them and said, if you don't do it now, I'll go to Newcastle with a clause in place. Man United obviously didn't want me to go there so I came here. It was basically whatever Newcastle paid for me, Man United would have paid a year later.”

As it turned out, Rooney headed to Old Trafford and enjoyed 13 trophy-laden years - winning every domestic honour possible and the Champions League. He also finished his career as the Red Devils’ all-time leading goalscorer - overtaking the late Sir Bobby Charlton.

Speaking to The Rest Is Football podcast, Toon legend Shearer named Rooney as the player he regrets not playing with. He said: “I’ve said it before but I would’ve loved to have played alongside Rooney. He would’ve been brilliant to play alongside. He had everything, so Rooney for me.”