By Mandeep Sanghera

Alan Shearer career statistics

Alan Shearer will embark on his final Premiership season on Sunday a day after his 35th birthday.

The Newcastle legend was persuaded to have one last fling in the top-flight after originally planning to retire at the end of the 2004/2005 campaign.

This time there will be no turning back from ending a love affair which has put him on the brink of history.

In a glorious career of landmarks, Shearer has one more marker to pass and add the polishing touch to his goalscoring exploits.

The prolific hitman, going into Sunday's season-opener at Arsenal, is just six goals away from equalling Jackie Milburn's tally of 200 for Newcastle.

If he manages to pass the milestone he will only serve to elevate his already sky-high status at his hometown club who he joined for �15m in July 1996.

It is a record which most players can only dream of and is likely to mean more to him than all the medals people believe he missed out on by choosing his boyhood heroes instead of a move to Manchester United.

SHEARER v MILBURN SHEARER League: 264 (7) games 138 goals FA Cup: 33 games 20 goals League Cup: 13 (1) games 6 goals Europe: 48 games 30 goals TOTAL: 360 (8) games 194 goals MILBURN League: 353 games 177 goals FA Cup: 44 games 23 goals Other: 2 games 1 goal TOTAL: 397 games 200 goals

'Wor Jackie', as Milburn was called by Newcastle's adoring fans, was not only prolific on the field but regarded as an ambassador off the pitch and Shearer's exploits are likely to see him held in similar esteem.

While Milburn's goals helped Newcastle to victory in the FA Cup in 1951, 1952 and 1955, Shearer has been the rock the club have always relied on during turbulent recent times.

And his decision to retire from international football with England has reaped dividends as he enters another top-flight campaign.

A predator in the box, a threat in the air, a target man, a sureshot from the penalty spot and no stranger to powering in a strike from long range, his trademark Shearer salute to celebrate a goal is one of the past decade's enduring football sights.

It is an image which is likely to be replaced by Shearer the manager as he has already been touted as a future boss of Newcastle.

Not only will this season be marked as being his last as a player, it will see him start taking on some coaching responsibilities to help current boss Graeme Souness and steer him up the managerial learning curve.