England v Northern Ireland
U17 International Tournament 2007
7.45pm, Wednesday 29 August 2007
Griffin Park, Brentford FC
Click here for ticket details

Newcastle United have a long running affair with number nines, and Ryan Donaldson hopes to be the latest in a line of cherished forwards.

While the teenager was too young to remember Wor Jackie and SuperMac dazzling the Toon Army, it was Alan Shearer, arguably Newcastle’s greatest ever number nine, who inspired a young Donaldson.

"Alan Shearer was my hero," he said. "I’ve been a Newcastle fan all my life. He was everyone’s idol and I was no different. I used to watch him score at St James’ Park – every Newcastle fan dreams of scoring there.

"He was strong, brave, would put his body on the line and always seemed in the right place to score. I wear the number nine – it’d be a dream to wear the shirt for the first team. Hopefully one day, but there’s a long way to go yet."

While Shearer went on to captain his country, Donaldson has been taking his first few tentative steps on a career he hopes will see him emulate his idol.

Same shirt number, same club, but the similarities do not end there. While Shearer scored on both Under-21 and senior debut, Donaldson followed suit by netting on his first appearance for England, overcoming a bout of nerves to score twice in a 2-0 win over Iceland in last month’s Nordic Championships.

"I found out in had been selected for England U17s a couple of weeks before we went," he recalled.

"I had been on stand-by before so when I saw the letter I just thought it would be the same again. I could not believe it when it said I had been called up. I was dead nervous before I joined up with the team because I did not know anyone, but I enjoyed it."

After settling in with his new team-mates, Donaldson’s nerves were sent jangling again when England Head Coach Noel Blake told him he would be starting up front against Iceland.

"I found out I was in the team the night before – I had a smile on my face," he said. "I did not get to sleep for a couple of hours though. The nerves kicked in before the game and then when I was walking out for the National Anthem."

But the Newcastle striker repaid Blake’s confidence with goals in the 60th and 65th minute to hand England a comfortable victory.

"I could not believe it," said Donaldson. "I remember Chris Solly getting the ball and I thought there might be a chance. I got in the box, he played a great ball and I just stuck it in.

"The second one Dan Philliskirk found some space and played a great ball for me to go one-on-one with the keeper. I just put it under him.

"I just felt relief. I had missed a good chance in the first five minutes. But scoring for your country on debut is a dream come true."

Donaldson took his England tally to four in as many games by notching against Finland and Norway as the young Lions finished third.

"Hopefully I can carry on in the next tournament," he added.

As with all prolific strikers, Donaldson says the ability to be in the right place at the right time is instinctive.

"The ball just seems to fall for me. It just feels natural."