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Shearer the man for Taylor

Newcastle United's Steven Taylor believes that Alan Shearer is the only man who can help the Magpies secure an immediate return to the Premier League.

The 23-year-old defender admitted that he and his colleagues had let the club down this season, but believes that if Shearer stays in charge, the misery of relegation can be quickly forgotten.

Interim boss Shearer, who stepped in for the final eight games of the season, is reported to have been offered a four-year contract to remain at the helm at St James' Park.

Taylor said: "The only person I think can take us back up is Alan Shearer.

"He has been fantastic to work with and let's hope I get the chance to work with him again. He has been unbelievable with all the players.

"There have to be big changes after this and people need to realise it is an honour to play for Newcastle United Football Club.

"It doesn't matter what club you are at, you have to give it 100 per cent and the past ten months haven't been good enough.

"We want to be back, we are a Premier League team, so we need to be back up here as quick as possible.

"It is starting to sink in now we are a Championship team and we have to deal with it. We have to put ourselves back up there."

Fergie eyes United greatnes

Sir Alex Ferguson believes his current Manchester United crop will join the pantheon of great sides should they become the first to successfully defend the Champions League.

United go head-to-head with Barcelona in Rome on Wednesday night 12 months on from being crowned European champions against Chelsea in Moscow.

No team has successfully defended Europe's premier club competition since it was re-branded in 1992.

"Nobody has retained the trophy," said Ferguson. "But we're good at firsts. We have an opportunity to repeat that.

"It's interesting - unusual - that nobody has retained the trophy since the Champions League started.

"It was done regularly in the sixties and seventies. There were cycles of great teams, like Ajax, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. We have an opportunity to change that. I hope we take it."

Meanwhile, Ferguson believes that United will be driven on to succeed by the feeling that they have under-achieved in Europe during his lengthy reign.

Despite perennially appearing in the later rounds of the Champions League, United have only tasted glory on two occasions - in 1999 and 2008.

Villa confident on Barry stay

Aston Villa's American owner Randy Lerner remains confident that his club can fend off interest in England midfielder Gareth Barry this summer.

The 28-year-old is about to enter the final year of his current deal at Villa Park, with Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal all rumoured to be showing an interest.

The Reds would be able to offer Champions League football which eluded Villa, as their bid for a top-four finish stalled in the closing weeks of the Premier League campaign.

An upbeat Lerner said: "We have discussed a new contract with Gareth. Am I optimistic Gareth will stay? Yes, I am optimistic. It is my nature.

"He is currently speaking to (manager) Martin O'Neill and that is the natural process. They will get into it and it will all get handled in the normal ways.

"Am I happy for him to wind down his current contract? That's his decision. If it means he is staying another year, I am absolutely happy.