ALAN Shearer says The Magpies will be raring to go on Saturday despite a pre-season campaign hugely disrupted by a spate on injuries and an eye infection that has closed down the dressing rooms.

United open up the Premiership campaignh at Middlesbrough on Saturday, but manager Sir Bobby Robson will be forced to have a head count on Saturday morning before he can namke his team.

Shearer admits the build up to the new season has been far from ideal, but adds that there will be no room for excuses once referee Steve Bennett gets proceedings underway at the Riverside.

"It has been a stop-start pre-season, starting with the travelling to the Far East and then coming back and the eye infection starting around the club," said Shearer.

"It hasn't been ideal. We've had to report for training in our kits at 10.15am for a 10.30am start, then we've gone home straight afterwards in our scruffy training kits. It's like the old Sunday morning days!

"We haven't been able to have any meetings or eat together like we normally do, but we just have to get on with it and whatever team the manager sends out on Saturday will be hoping for three points. We have no excuses, and we'll be doing all we can to get off to a good start."

Shearer celebrates his 34th birthday today, and while Saturday's game rules out a celebratory pint, he is hoping he has plent6y to shot about on Saturday.

"I can't really celebrate on my birthday with the game on Saturday, but hopefully i can do my celebrating afterwards. Three points would make an ideal present."