ALAN Shearer says Gary Speed is the "ultimate professional footballer".

The Wanderers midfielder reached a memorable milestone on Saturday when he became the first player to make 500 Premiership appearances.

The 37-year-old marked the day with a man-of-the-match performance against West Ham and Shearer used the landmark to pour praise on his former Newcastle United team-mate.

"It's right that he has got the Premiership appearance record," said Shearer. "Gary should be an inspiration to any youngster coming through the ranks."

Speed was considered likely to have only a short-term impact on the Wanderers first team when he signed on a free transfer from Newcastle two and a half years ago.

But he has benefited from Wanderers' conditioning techniques which are notorious for helping to extend players' careers.

He played 45 matches in his first season, including five for Wales, and quit international football in October, 2004.

Last term he played another 40 games for the Whites and this season he is one of only three Premiership ever-presents for Wanderers.

And Shearer says he can see no end in sight to Speed's career.

"Gary could go on forever," he said. "He's a top pro who looks after himself so well."

Former Wales captain and midfielder Speed signed a new two-year contract at the Trotters in the summer and has vowed to continue his glittering 18-year career for as long as possible.

I'll look back on landmarks when I retire.

"I don't pay a lot of attention to landmarks, they make me feel old," Speed told BBC Sport.

"I'll look back with pride at that sort of thing when I retire.

"The much-needed three points at West Ham were more important to me. We've been on a bad run and haven't been taking our chances."

Speed's 14 years in the Premiership have seen him miss just 60 games in his run to 500 appearances with Leeds United, Everton, Newcastle and Bolton.

He quit international football at the end of Mark Hughes' reign in October 2004 after 14 years and 85 caps, making him his country's most-capped outfield player.

Since then, he has missed just seven Premiership matches, and has played in all Bolton's league games this season.

He played in every Premiership game for his clubs in 1996/7, 1998/9, 2003/4 and 2004/5.

The Hawarden man is taking his coaching qualifications and has targeted a managerial future when he eventually hangs up his boots.