MARK Hughes believes it would be fitting if Alan Shearer broke Jackie Milburn's goalscoring record at St James' Park tomorrow - just as long as Blackburn claim the three points on offer!

Shearer needs just one more goal to overtake Milburn's record and stand alone as the greatest ever goalscorer in Newcastle's history.

And Hughes would like to see him do it against the club where he made his name, providing he ends up on the losing side.

"I think Alan Shearer has been a fantastic player throughout his career and he's scored goals wherever he has been, as well as at international level," said Hughes.

"It would therefore be great for him if he could beat the record at St James' Park and possibly against Blackburn Rovers - but only as long as we win the game!"

Shearer recently equalled Milburn's record when he notched his 200th Newcastle goal in their 1-0 FA Cup win against Mansfield Town.

Now the 35-year-old is hoping to go one better - and ease the pressure on beleagured Magpies chief Graeme Souness in the process - when he faces Rovers for what is likely to be the last time before he hangs up his boots at the end of the season.

Paying tribute to Shearer's Corinthian spirit, Hughes said of the Newcastle number nine: "Alan has been a constant for them this season and he's played more games than he probably thought he was going to, which is a big ask for him.

"But he's a leader on the pitch and, by all accounts, a leader off it as well, so he's more than capable of taking on those demands and doing something with them."

How Graeme Souness could do with some of that old Shearer magic as he faces up to the biggest crisis of his managerial career.

Newcastle fans have had to endure another season of spectacular underachievement and, faced with mounting injury problems, Souness knows he's fighting to save his career.

But Hughes is not about to show his former boss any mercy, even though a win for Rovers could be fatal to Souness's chances of hanging onto his job.

"We view this as an opportunity to play against a side that isn't playing as well as they would like so, hopefully, this is a good time to be playing them, particularly as we're on a seven game unbeaten run," said Hughes.

"Our record at St James' in recent seasons isn't great - I think we've only won their once in eight visits in the Premiership.

"But the timing may be right for us this time."

Asked if he had any sympathy for Souness, who has spent a whopping £50 million in the transfer market since taking charge at Newcastle, Hughes added diplomatically: "The players Graeme has brought in are all good players but some have worked for him and others have missed out through injuries, so it's been a difficult period for them.

"But that isn't really my concern. My concern is how we approach Newcastle at St James' Park, which is always a big test for anyone."