Newcastle's Shearer: Liverpool ace Owen will fire for Real Madrid

Newcastle United captain Alan Shearer is backing Liverpool's Michael Owen to set Real Madrid alight if he joins them this month.

The Geordies hero told The Sun: "It is not clear where Michael will be. But whoever has his services will have a striker coming into the prime of his footballing life."

"Moving to Real Madrid or any other top foreign club would be a big opportunity for him."

"At Madrid, for example, he would also be joining up with David Beckham and they certainly know each other's game from England duty."

"Nobody can fault his service to Liverpool. He has given his all for seven years. But he has been playing in a side which, bar one season, has been outside the top three for I don't know how many years and maybe that has come into his thinking."

"Yet these are also exciting times at Anfield with a new manager, so it is going to be a tough decision all round."