England captain Alan Shearer, a man not known for a lack of confidence or a retiring nature, surprised English football on Saturday night with his announcement that after this summer's Euro 2000 finals he will retire from the international game. He will be 29.

Shearer said his decision was based on his desire to spend more time with his family, but his undisguised intention to succeed Bobby Robson as manager of Newcastle United is a more telling professional reason.

So too is Shearer's realistic assessment of his dwindling powers as a once formidable and intimidating international centre forward. Shearer, as conscious of history's judgment as an American president, wants to be remembered for his golden days, such as Euro '96.

The ankle ligament injury and broken fibula Shearer sustained in the pre-season of 1997 altered many perceptions of Shearer - most importantly, his own. The injury curtailed his mobility and effectiveness to the point where there were widespread calls over the past 12 months for him to be dropped from the England team anyway. Shearer responded with a rash of goals for Newcastle this season and with a hat-trick against Luxembourg in a European Championship qualifier last September.

The debate in England returned to who would partner Shearer, but when Germany come to England for the first match of the next World Cup qualifying campaign in early October, it will be a question of who replaces Shearer rather than who accompanies him.

There is sure to be a fierce debate about who becomes the next England captain, with the north London central defenders Tony Adams of Arsenal and Sol Campbell of Tottenham the early favourites.

Shearer left the door open for a recall if there is an attacking crisis at some stage, but assuming there is not it means England will have to plan without Shearer for the first time since his goalscoring debut against France in February 1992.

To date, Shearer has been capped 57 times and has scored 28 goals. Only five Englishmen have scored more.

Meanwhile, Manchester United may be without striker Dwight York for Wednesday's Champions' League clash with Bordeaux. York was expected back from Gold Cup duty today. But now Trinidad and Tobago have asked United to release Yorke to play in a World Cup qualifier against the Dutch Antilles on the same day. If Ferguson refuses, Trinidad and Tobago could make FIFA force the player's release.