BLACKBURN Rovers would have to receive a world record transfer fee of £15 million if they were ever to part with Alan Shearer.

Such has been the impact of super Shearer on Euro '96, Rovers' assistant manager Tony Parkes believes a club would have to cough up more than the £13 million AC Milan paid Fiorentina for Italian ace Gianluigi Lentini.

Four goals in three games from the Rovers hitman have helped guide England into Saturday's quarter final Wembley showdown with Spain - and those stylish, condident strikes have made him the talk of Europe.

But Parkes assured fans that their prized asset is going nowhere.

He said: "I honestly believe that Alan's value must be around the £15 million mark now after what he has achieved.

But that would mean nothing to us because he is priceless. Who could we buy to replace him to do just as good a job, not to mention better ?"

Speaking after Shearer's double strike in the astonishing 4-1 victory over pre-tournament favourites Holland, Parkes said he was delighted to see Shearer end his international goal drought.

"Alan has received some unfair stick because he went 12 games without scoring for England. But he is a natural goalscorer and it never worried him. I think he'll go on to be the tournament's leading scorer."

Looking around the rest of the foreign legion of frontmen on display in the championship, Parkes thinks his star striker is one of the best around.

"From what I have seen only Davor Suker's performance for Croatia against Denmark has come near him."

While Parkes was full of praise for Shearer he felt nothing but sorrow for the trio of Scottish Rovers; Colin Hendry, Kevin Gallacher and Billy McKinlay.

He said: "Colin played his heart out but I was sorry to see that Kevin or Billy didn't get more of a run out. They trained very hard for these championships but Kevin only got 57 minutes of action and Billy 25 which is disappointing for them and the club."

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