ALAN Shearer is out of England's last Wembley warm up game before the European Championships.
The ace marksman was believed to be making his comeback against Hungary on Saturday - just four weeks after undergoing surgery on a groin injury.
But England boss Terry Venables has ruled him out of the clash and he will now have to wait until the tour of China and Hong Kong later this month to start playing again.
While Shearer, who finished as top scorer in the Premiership, will be obviously disappointed to miss the game, the news has been welcomed with a sigh of relief by Rovers bosses.
Assistant manager Tony Parkes said: "To rush Alan back for this game would have been a mistake. His fitness has been monitored closely by England physio Alan Smith who also works with us, and he has made the right decision.
"I've said all along that the ideal situation was to rest him from this game."
He added: "He is obviously Terry Venables' first choice striker so there is no need for him to rush back into action. I feel if he did, he would have put himself under extra and unnecessary pressure."
Parkes admitted he was surprised at the rapid recovery his star striker has made since the operation which forced him to sit out Rovers last two League games.
He said: ""Alan is a quick healer and has made a remarkable recovery. He is two week's ahead of his fitness schedule and now has plenty of time to regain his full fitness in time for the European championships."
Meanwhile Parkes played down rumours linking Shearer with a £10 million move to Manchester United.
"It doesn't surprise me, if it is true, that United are interested in Alan because he is a class act. But he is a Rovers player and we will do everything possible to keep him here."
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article