"I can state here and now that there has been no approach to Hitzfeld and there are no plans to approach him," Shepherd was quoted as saying by Sky Sports network on Sunday.

"I've said all along we will take our time over this appointment. We've rushed into things before and we've made mistakes, I admit that."

Newcastle sacked Graeme Souness earlier in February after a string of poor results, appointing Glenn Roeder as caretaker manager and veteran striker Alan Shearer as assistant.

Several reports in England and Germany said that Shepherd is in advanced talks with Hitzfeld, claiming that the former Bayern Munich boss traveled to Newcastle for final negotiations.

But Shepherd said he will take his time to sign the right man for the job and backed his interim coach.

"Glenn Roeder is an excellent caretaker, a really safe pair of hands, so we can afford to make sure we appoint the right man without the necessity of being hurried into it."

Roeder and Shearer led Newcastle to two successive victories over Aston Villa and Portsmouth.

The Magpies are placed 14th in the Premiership standings on 32 points.