Irish marksman Robbie Keane has revealed his soccer hero is an Englishman.

Coventry’s record striker at £6 million from Wolves, revealed he had idolised Alan Shearer for years.

The two talents collide for the first time on Saturday when Bobby Robson takes the ‘Toon Army’ to Highfield Road.

Keane says:

"I think every young player in the country looks up to Alan. He gets twenty goals a season and you have to respect him for that.

"I can’t wait to play against him. I just hope he doesn’t score and I do."

And Keane revealed that he telephoned Shearer when his move across the West Midlands was on the cards.

"I spoke to Alan before I came to Coventry because he was in a similar situation when he was a young player. He gave me advice and I took it and signed on.

"He has been an idol of mine for years and he is a nice bloke who always has time to talk to young players like me.

"He has some bad press, which is really unfair, but he has scored four goals for his country and is top scorer in the premiership. He has scored ten goals in four games for Newcastle and if that doesn’t say anything I don’t know what will."

Keane could be lining up with a new strike partner against Newcastle, his fourth in ten matches since he was signed for a record £6 million from Wolverhampton Wanderers. He began with Noel Whelan then when that player was injured, John Aloisi took over.

With Aloisi injured, Keane has played the last two games alongside the Moroccan midfielder Moustapha Hadji.