Yes, he came home and almost fired Newcastle to the Premier League, and kept them in European contention for a few more years than they probably should have been, but Alan Shearer owed absolutely nothing to Newcastle after the club gave him a trial and decided he wasn't good enough when he was a teenager. Highlighting the issues with youth trials, Shearer was brought in from Wallsend Boys Club for an opportunity to prove himself in front of Newcastle's discerning scouts, only to be put in goal. Quite what was behind that decision is unclear, but inevitably Shearer failed to show his ability - being at entirely the wrong end of the pitch - and United passed on the chance to sign him. At least they were proved right though, eh? It's not like he went on to Southampton and scored the goals to attract Blackburn's attention. And it's not like he then scored 112 league goals in 138 appearances to help Rovers win the league. The truth is Shearer should never have had to come home - he should have been on Tyneside all along scoring the goals to make Newcastle, and not Blackburn, the league champions. Which other missed opportunity players deserve to be on this list? Share your thoughts below in the comments thread.
