Eddie Howe is looking to establish Newcastle as a force in the Premier League and they’ve been tipped to surpass Kevin Keegan’s entertaining side, who narrowly missed out on the title
Toon legend Alan Shearer claims Newcastle are better equipped to be crowned Premier League champions than Kevin Keegan’s Entertainers.
Shearer joined his hometown club 19 years ago, weeks after they’d been pipped to the title by Manchester United and in his first season at St James’s Park, the Magpies finished runners-up again. But having seen Newcastle end their 70 year wait for domestic silverware, the club’s record goalscorer believes the platform has been laid for further success.
Asked if Eddie Howe’s side have a better chance of winning the league than the side he played in, Shearer said: “I think they have. That team was a really good one but this one has done something we couldn’t do, something Sir Bobby Robson couldn’t do, which Kevin Keegan couldn’t do.
“And Eddie Howe has had to do it the hard way. They won the Carabao Cup, beating the big boys who were all top four or five in the table – Forest, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.
“Can they challenge for the title? They have the opportunity by signing the right players. By August if they bring in two of three big hitters, then they will be in a better position.”
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Looking back at his Toon career, Shearer added: “I wasn’t there when they lost a 12 point lead. I came in and was meant to be the final piece of the jigsaw but it didn’t work out like that. Now, they are in a really healthy position. They h aven’t signed anybody in the last three windows so you’d think that they are ready to kick on.”
Newcastle have made firm enquiries for Brighton ’s Joao Pedro and Anthony Elanga of Nottingham Forest though any deal is unlikely in this, the first transfer window of the close-season.
Keegan achieved a second and a third during his time in charge of the Magpies. Since then Sir Bobby Robson is the only man to go remotely close, albeit his charge towards the title ran out of breath back in the early 2000s.
The iconic manager took charge at St James’ Park and finished fourth and third in successive seasons as Newcastle made themselves a regular top four side. Howe again has the club back in that position with their resources meaning they’re likely to stick around.
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