SHEARER: the England dream has been put to bed. Once and for all.

Alan Shearer could walk back into the England team tomorrow and it would look as though he'd never been away from the international scene. There's still no-one better than the Newcastle striker playing that good, old fashioned centre forward role he's made an art form and the prospect of Michael Owen and Shearer in tandem once more is a mouth-watering one, albeit for the short-term.

Shearer's revelations in the Sunday Observer at the weekend, when he suggested that he would consider pulling on the three lions for one last swansong, was greeted with something approaching euphoria and no shortage of hysteria by the tabloids. But, hang on a minute here, aren't we overlooking something?

Isn't the reason Shearer is playing so well, so consistently and injury-free for Newcastle down to the fact that he doesn't put his battered body through the rigours of international football and the additional preparation playing at the top level requires? Therefore, I wonder whether Shearer would actually be doing himself any favours by reversing his decision and, personally, I can't see it happening.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see Shearer in an England shirt again, knocking opposition defenders all over the place, creating openings for Owen as well as banging in a few himself. He could still do it, I have no doubts about that, but for how long?

Maybe long enough to see England through to next summer's European Championship finals and, perhaps, through to the end of the final tournament itself. But whilst the Europeans are important, the World Cup is top of Sven's priority list, already, and he should be looking at the long-term picture, considering a long-term partner for Michael Owen. Not a short-term fix.

It seems as though some of Shearer's comments - like that one where he said 'I could still do a job for England, I know I could' - have been construed as a public plea to have his number nine jersey back. But I think one or two people have over-reacted to Shearer's show of national pride and whilst he admits he did consider the possibility of returning to the international stage, he's realistic enough to know it ain't gonna happen.

The 32-year-old admits he still misses representing his country but insists he will not be going back on the decision he made almost three years ago to retire from the international game. "It has been one of the most difficult few days of my footballing life," Shearer has said since the Sunday stories in the Observer set tongues wagging and keyboards working overtime.

He added this morning: "I had seriously thought about making myself available - but I know I am doing the right thing now. I thought it all through and my reasons for retiring from the international scene in 2000 still stand now." Namely, that he can concentrate on his club football, make the most of his rests between games and, probably, extend his career by a couple of years.

Shearer does not regret the interview he gave the Observer and which all-but knocked Saddam off the front pages subsequently, but he believes he should have chosen his words more carefully. It's rare for Shearer to get all sensational and he admitted: "I normally choose my words very, very carefully. Perhaps I got carried away this time and didn't choose them so carefully. That is what brought all of this on. But this is the final no! Definitely."

With typical honesty and professionalism, Shearer has spoken again to clear the air ahead of Newcastle's must-win Champions League clash with Barcelona on Wednesday and he adds: "If this had dragged on it might have got in the way of what will be one of the most important nights of Newcastle's history. I hope I have many more memorable nights - with Newcastle - to come. I want to help Newcastle United win something and that is my priority."

To quote Shearer's closing quote on the subject….the England dream has been put to bed. Once and for all. Thanks for the international memories Al.