GRAHAM Alexander has spoken out in defence of want-away striker Jon Macken - but promised North End fans that there is life after the number 17.

Macken was greeted with a mixture of boos and cheers when he made his 64th minute appearance against Millwall yesterday.

The striker has caused outrage by demanding a move away from North End. It is believed weeks of speculation about a big-money offer at Wolves has unsettled him.

Manager David Moyes - enraged by the player's decision to demand a switch - had claimed he felt Macken had not been playing to his best, although he has been suffering a hamstring injury.

But the boss stressed he would play Macken if he felt the 24-year-old was the right man - and he nearly was yesterday, setting up a couple of opportunities which could have given North End a more comfortable victory than the 1-0 which preveiled.

Speaking after the match, Alexander said: "I don't think Jon got that bad a reaction from the fans, I have certainly seen worse. I got a lot worse when word got out that I was moving from Luton to come here.

"It is to be expected considering what has happened, but we understand his situation and we are behind him.

"While he is here we will support him and hopefully he will support us."

But he added: "There is life after Jon. If he moves, hopefully the manager will have money to bring in new players. All players can be replaced.

"It is a blow, he has scored 50 goals or so over the last two seasons but these things happen.

"Having said that, we have got some good players here now, like Steve Basham, Richard Cresswell and David Healy. All players are replaced eventually."