NEWCASTLE United chairman Freddy Shepherd believes it would be fitting if Alan Shearer set a new club goalscoring record in Saturday's FA Cup clash with Mansfield Town.
The skipper will line up against the Stags needing just two more strikes to overhaul Jackie Milburn's all-time record of 200.
Wor Jackie's name will always be synonymous with the FA Cup and that golden era in the Fifties when United went to Wembley three times in five seasons and brought the famous old trophy back to St. James' Park in 1951, 1952 and 1955.
FA Cup glory has, alas, eluded Shearer to date. As a United player, he was a beaten finalist in 1998 and 1999, and has also suffered the agony of semi-final defeat in 2000 and, more recently, last season.
But no one has scored more goals in the competition for Newcastle than Milburn and Shearer, and that's why the chairman believes it would be somewhat apt if the present-day number nine could overtake one of his predecessors at the weekend.
He told nufc.co.uk "The FA Cup has always been a special competition for our fans and that will never change.
"Wor Jackie's name will always be fondly remembered whenever people talk about the great achievements of our 1950s teams when we lifted the cup three times."
"And Alan has also scored some great goals in the cup for Newcastle in recent years, twice helping us get to Wembley.
"Alan only needs two more goals to set a new record and that is going to happen sooner rather than later. It would be great if he could get them on Saturday in the FA Cup because no one has scored more goals for us in the competition than those two great number nines."
Jackie netted 23 FA Cup goals for United, while Big Al currently has 20 to his name.
A healthy gate is expected at Gallowgate on Saturday and League Two outfit Mansfield have already sold their entire 5,500 allocation.
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