Quoted by The Sun, Kevin Phillips has revealed how comments by Alan Shearer spurred him on to get 30 goals in a league season for Sunderland.

Phillips worked his way up to the very top of the game, playing regularly in the Premier League and also notching a handful of England caps.

Certainly, he was a sharp finisher during his career and his best days perhaps came at Sunderland, with his relationship up top with Niall Quinn providing plenty of goals for the Black Cats.

Indeed, he hit the 30 mark one season on Wearside, after Alan Shearer had predicted that no-one would do so after his exploits in the past.

Phillips revealed, too, that those comments inspired him to really try and break the barrier in a 38-game season.

He said:

“After Al had said he didn’t think another player would score 30 league goals, I was desperate to get to that.

“When I was on 29, I went a few games without scoring and it was towards the end of the season.

“I managed it against West Ham and with my celebration, I did the 10, 20, 30 hand gesture.

“I never even thought about a European Golden Shoe. I didn’t even realise at that time it existed!”

The Verdict

Shearer obviously scored time and again in the Premier League but it's also clear that Phillips had plenty about him when it came to finishing at the highest level.

That period of time with Quinn and Phillips up top was a golden one for Black Cats fans and they'll be longing for those days to return sooner rather than later.