Newcastle United's infallible white knight, new manager Alan Shearer, is on to a winner in more ways the one, according to Thursday mornings UK newspapers.

The Guardian claim that the calculating Toon legend, who has rejected coaching roles with his former club on numerous occasions, has decided that the odds of a 17th place finish are in his favour and by gaining one place in the Premier League can reaffirm his Messianic status in the North East.

"Maximum credit for minimum energy expended" as columnist Paul Hayward puts it.

The former England skipper, who will take training for the first time on Thursday, also bagged himself a staggering £1m for just eight games work and will receive another £1m if he manages to save the club from relegation, according to Daily Mail.

Add to the that a coaching team that will include former Southampton team-mate Iain Dowie and former Newcastle player Paul Ferris, who will both earn around £300,000, with Rob Lee and Tim Flowers also waiting in the wings and Newcastle's bill will top out at about £3m.

The Daily Telegraph report that Shearer pulled of another PR coup when he demanded the expulsion of Geordie hate figure Dennis Wise and it also looks like Joe Kinnear, who has won just six games in 25 attempts, will not be returning to St James Park.

Alan Hansen, who shares the Match Of The Day pundits' couch with Shearer wrote: "The effect on Saturday at St James' Park, against Chelsea, will be inspirational."

But, according to the Daily Express, the coup de grâce came when Shearer forced a clear-the-air apology from Newcastle's unpopular owner Mike Ashley. The former Toon No.9 could do no more to ingratiate himself to the fans that already adore him.

In other news, Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was close to quitting Anfield before he signed his new five year contract last month, according to The Sun.

The Kop boss revealed he was frustrated by owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett and the role of meddling chief executive Rick Parry and said: "It is true that at times I may have thought about my future."

But the Americans have since patched up their relationship and Parry is heading for the exit.

The Independent claim that despite England's 2-1 over Ukraine at Wembley it was a night that cried out for Manchester United's Michael Carrick to help run the midfield for manager Fabio Capello.

And The Times report that Southampton's hopes of escaping a ten-point penalty by putting their parent company - rather than the club - into administration could be derailed by the Football League.