Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has spoken about the current situation at the club in his first piece since joining The Athletic as a columnist.
The former England striker who leads the way in the Premier League all-time scoring charts, including 181 for the Toon, had his say on all things Newcastle from the ownership and new signings, to Steve Bruce and expectations.
Now a regular Match of the Day pundit, Shearer believes a worry for the Magpies this season could be an over-reliance on two particular forwards: ”The big concern is that they have to keep Wilson and (Allan) Saint-Maximin fit. Those two are key for Newcastle.”
Former Newcastle number nine, Shearer has been impressed with the singing of Jeff Hendrick, Jamal Lewis, Ryan Fraser, and Callum Wilson himself, stating: “I think they had a good transfer window. Brucey (Steve Bruce) went down the route of trying to get in players who know their way around the Premier League.”
The 50-year-old, who retired as a Newcastle player before managing his boyhood club for a spell, also described life under the ownership of Mike Ashley as a ”slog” before suggesting ”there will be an improvement” in terms of Newcastle’s 2020/21 campaign.
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Hearing from a man of Shearer’s stature on all things Newcastle is always bound to provoke a reaction amongst fans and media alike.
Perhaps most poignantly are his views on the problems faced should Bruce be struck by an injury to one of his key frontmen. Should Wilson face a layoff it would be up to one of an injury-prone Andy Carroll, a lacking in confidence Joelinton, or a currently injured Dwight Gayle to pick up the mantel.
With this in mind, there is certainly an argument to be made that the club should be back in for an additional forward before the domestic transfer window closes on Friday.
