Alan Shearer admitted tonight he "fears the worst" after a scan on his injured knee had to be postponed for 24 hours.

Shearer suffered a suspected tear of his medial ligament during Newcastle's 4-1 victory over Sunderland on Easter Monday.

The swelling around Shearer's left knee has forced the scan to be delayed until Friday and the Newcastle captain is not holding out much hope.

Shearer plans to retire at the end of the season - but confirmation of ligament damage would bring his illustrious career to a premature end.

"I am fearing the worst unfortunately. I have been injured before plenty of times so I know the scenario and I haven't got a great hope," said Shearer.

"It's a matter of time. We have to wait and see and let nature take its course and hopefully the scan will reveal on Friday the damage is not too bad.

"Over the years my glass has always been half full and not half empty."

Shearer still hopes to make one final appearance at St James' Park to thank the Toon Army - at his own end-of-season testimonial match against Celtic.

"I will try hard to do it. Newcastle is my club and always has been. I've had 10 wonderful years here," he said.

"I have not given up hope yet, hopefully I can play a small part in the testimonial. All the tickets are sold and the money is going to charity."

Shearer, who was tonight presented with the HMV Lifetime Achievement Award at a gala dinner in London, leaves the game with no regrets despite a decade at Newcastle without a winners' medal.

"I have had a great career, I can't complain. I have been a lucky boy," said Shearer. "I have never been one for looking back. I have had a fantastic time, I've been more lucky than many other people have and I have lived my boyhood dream, scoring goals in the number nine shirt.

"The undoubted highlight has been winning an England cap, winning the league at Blackburn in the way we did and playing for my club Newcastle.

"I had always wanted to do that as a boy, to score at the Gallowgate End as captain.

"I have hoped more than most to win things at Newcastle. But I have given my all and no-one can ever take that away."

And if Monday's game is to be his last? "It wouldn't be a bad way to sign off, scoring on my last game and beating Sunderland 4-1," he said.