Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer will not play again this season because of a knee injury and could face further surgery.
The 30-year-old former England captain has been struggling for fitness since undergoing an operation to cure tendinitis in his right knee on December 27th.
He visited specialist Dr Richard Steadman in the United States in March and was told to rest the knee but further scans have revealed the injury has still not healed.
"I have been clinging to an outside chance that I might play again this season but this is not going to be possible," Shearer told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.