GRAEME Souness has revealed that he tried to sign former Rovers hero Alan Shearer before the start of the season.

The Blackburn boss asked Magpies manager Bobby Robson if the 34-year-old was available for a transfer two weeks ago, but was knocked back.

Souness hoped that Shearer, who won the Premiership title and scored 112 goals in 138 league games during his four-year spell at Ewood Park, would be available for a return following Robson's decision to sign Patrick Kluivert from Barcelona.

But Souness never got round to discussing tabling a bid with the Blackburn board because he was told the former England striker wasn't for sale.

"I phoned Bobby Robson a couple of weeks ago," said Souness today. "But I was told by Bobby that there was no deal to be done so that was as far as it went.

"They'd signed Patrick Kluivert and there was talk of Shearer possibly being available so I made a call on the strength of that.

"I had to find out if he was available or not, and when they gave me no encouragement, that was the end of that."

Souness has also admitted that he may lose out on Nigerian forward Peter Odemwingie, who has returned to Belgian club La Louviere after a second trial at Brockhall.

"He's trained with us and gone back, but I think there will be extreme difficulty in getting a work permit for him," said Souness.

"But he is one of the options we are considering."