Newcastle United interim manager Alan Shearer has hinted that he may be interested in taking the reins at St. James’ Park on a permanent basis.

The Geordie legend was appointed head coach on April 1, in place of Joe Kinnear, who is recovering from a triple heart bypass operation.

Shearer has maintained that he will step aside at the end of the season and allow Kinnear, or any other manager the board may wish to appoint, to lead the Magpies from thereon in. However, recent reports in the British press have claimed that the former England international is contemplating remaining in charge of the Toon beyond the summer.

Newcastle are, of course, battling against relegation from the Premier League, and their victory over Middlesbrough on Monday evening moved them one step closer to ensuring they will be playing top-flight football next season. It seems that Shearer may have caught the managerial bug, after intimating that he has no plans to give it up any time soon.

“No, I’m not missing it at all,” Shearer replied, when asked if he was missing being a television pundit.

“I am thoroughly enjoying this. I have said every week that, despite not winning, I have enjoyed it.

“But you enjoy it a hell of a lot more when the results go your way, like Monday against Middlesbrough. Now I will be looking for that again.

“I have not had any free time at all in the past few weeks, but I didn’t expect any. I have no complaints and have enjoyed it – if we continue to get results, I will enjoy it even more.”

Newcastle could all but guarantee their place in next season’s Premier League should they beat Fulham on Saturday afternoon and other results go their way.