Alan Shearer is feeling confident that Newcastle are nearly there in their quest for a top-four Premier League finish. Before the season began, he had hoped for an improvement on last season’s 11th-place finish, but never expected them to be in third place at the start of May. He credits manager Eddie Howe for the team’s success and believes that Champions League football would mean so much to the Newcastle supporters who have been starved of success for far too long.
Shearer believes that two wins will secure them Champions League football, unless Liverpool and Brighton win all their remaining games. He is confident that Newcastle can take Brighton out of the equation when they come to St James’ Park next month and Liverpool have been patchy away from Anfield. He believes that Champions League football would help with everything, from attracting bigger and better players to being able to pay for them without worrying about breaking any Financial Fair Play rules.
The feel-good factor is already back in the city and Shearer remembers the same thing happening when he was a Newcastle player under Sir Bobby Robson. He believes that Howe deserves great credit for making this happen and a top-four finish would help him continue the amazing progress he has already made.
Shearer believes that Newcastle have been great to watch in every department this season, from front to back. He praises Howe for his decision to bring Callum Wilson on at half-time against Southampton which changed the game and helped them come back stronger than ever after their blip in February. He also praises Alexander Isak who has been close to unplayable on the left and has been a great addition to the team.
Shearer believes that if Newcastle make it into the Champions League, it would be a great reward for their fans who have been waiting for success for far too long. He is confident that they will get across the line and achieve something that no one thought possible before a ball was kicked at the start of this campaign.