Atoksyah's Weblog

FIRST the good news for those of a black and white persuasion.

Newcastle United possessed the fighting spirit required to avoid a third successive home defeat, which would have increased concerns around St James’ Park.

Now the bad. Any more home performances like this, on the back of three defeats in four Premier League matches, including two at home to Stoke City and Blackpool, and the Magpies will have a genuine fight against relegation on their hands.

There have been promising aspects and plenty of reasons to be encouraged from the opening two months of the season, but weaknesses and cracks are emerging that need addressing by manager Chris Hughton.

The first half display against Wigan was the most worrying yet, highlighting how improvements are needed if a more damaging slide down the topflight table is to be avoided.

Once Ali Al-Habsi, the Latics goalkeeper, had got down well to hold a shot that was stabbed in his direction from Andy Carroll after 15 minutes Newcastle lost their way.

Carroll and Peter Lovenkrands, handed a start at the expense of his frustrated and dropped captain Kevin Nolan, were starved of any real service. Only Jonas Gutierrez of the four midfielders was capable of creating anything, while defensively Newcastle looked a shambles.

It did improve markedly after the restart, but by that time Newcastle’s disjointed and sluggish start had basically gifted Wigan a two-goal advantage at the break.

On the two occasions Franco di Santo had sent deliveries in to the Newcastle penalty area, Wigan had no right to score.

That, though, is exactly what they did. Twice in a little more than 100 first half seconds.

It was Charles N’Zogbia, back at St James’ Park for the first time since his departure in January last year, who capitalised on the sloppiness on both occasions.

First his diminutive frame was somehow allowed to head di Santo’s delivery into Tim Krul’s far corner by a static James Perch and Mike Williamson, who both stood by him.

Then the Frenchman added a second after Joey Barton lost out to James McCarthy in the middle and Perch was caught out of position high up the pitch.

Di Santo again picked out N’- Zogbia, who took a touch before unleashing a rasping drive into Krul’s top right corner, despite Williamson’s last-ditch rush to block.

N’Zogbia, who left under a storm after demanding a move following Joe Kinnear’s mispronunciation of his name, had silenced the Newcastle supporters who had given him a rough time.

He had also offered a further reminder of his value to Wigan, with the £9m-rated winger interesting Bayern Munich, Sunderland and Tottenham.

“He understands why he would get a bad reception, but he’s got experience and in a way he sees it as a football compliment,”

said Wigan manager Martinez.

“We knew how the fans would react and he relished the challenge. This was a game that he clearly enjoyed.”

Had it not been for Gutierrez, Newcastle would never have been able to force their way back into the match.

Following the confirmation that Hatem Ben Arfa will be missing for six months, Dan Gosling is weeks away from recovery and Wayne Routledge struggling for form, a lot of the attacking play will rest on the Argentine’s shoulders.

And, while he clearly has his shortcomings in the final third, his unpredictability means he is more often than not Newcastle’s most creative player.

That was certainly the case against Wigan. He had threatened to make an impact and then, following Shola Ameobi’s introduction from the bench, Gutierrez’s time arrived.

Eighteen minutes from the end he picked out Ameobi, who had worked ahead of his marker and headed down beyond Al- Habsi. Even then, though, there was still a lack of impetus until the closing stages.

Carroll had wasted a couple of decent opportunities, before Gutierrez floated over a sweet corner with 3mins 20secs of the four minutes of injury-time played. Carroll did well to turn goalwards and Fabricio Coloccini was on hand to power the equaliser past Al-Habsi.

While the rest of his teammates went crazy on the pitch, Gutierrez charged towards the dug-out and celebrated passionately in front of the coaching staff.

“I think the celebration was just delight,” said Hughton, who named him on the bench in the home defeat to Stoke City.

“My impression was that he is just ecstatic that we were able to get back into the game.

“If you look at the emotions of him and Colocinni when we scored that is what it meant to the team. Points in this division are valuable and to come back and get the point at that stage of the game showed what it meant to everybody.

“Jonas has certainly showed he is the sort of player who can break down resolute defences.

I think his form has got better.

I rested him at Everton and I would say since then he has been very good.

“One thing with Jonas is that you will always get a committed player, a player who absolutely loves playing.”

Having witnessed his team somehow come back from two goals down to avoid a fourth defeat in five Premier League matches, Hughton accepts he needs to find improvements.

He said: “There are concerns.

That we conceded two very poor goals, we allowed them too much possession and they showed some quality. They regained possession very well and passed it very well.

“We know that we will have to pick up a good percentage of points against this group of teams who we can expect to be around us.”

Either side of a Carling Cup date with Arsenal, Newcastle travel to West Ham next Saturday before taking on rivals Sunderland at St James’ Park on October 31. Those two matches could be pivotal in the Magpies’ season.

Andy Carroll plundered a hat-trick as Newcastle demolished Aston Villa with a stunning 6-0 victory.

Six days after the Magpies’ return to Barclays Premier League began in sobering fashion with a 3-0 defeat at Manchester United, they hit hapless Villa for six without reply.

John Carew let the home side off the hook when he skied a 10th-minute penalty high over the bar, but Newcastle were far more clinical when they got the opportunity.

Carroll, watched by Alan Shearer, the man who wore the number nine shirt he has now inherited, stole the show with a fine treble after Joey Barton had opened the scoring with a 12th-minute piledriver and Kevin Nolan had made it 2-0 with 32 minutes gone.

Nolan struck again at the death before Carroll claimed the match ball in injury time to round off an impressive display in front of a delighted crowd of 43,546.

The Magpies were handed a further boost at half-time when they announced the signing, subject to a work permit, of Ivory Coast international Cheick Tiote from Dutch club FC Twente.

But for managerless Villa, who ultimately sent the Magpies down in May last year, their trip to the north-east was little short of disastrous.

Newcastle boss Chris Hughton spent much of the summer acknowledging that this season would present far tougher challenges than last season’s Coca-Cola Championship romp, and his caveats were echoed by managing director Derek Llambias in his programme notes for the game.

Hughton, perhaps wary of the pace within the Villa ranks, once again fielded 21-year-old Carroll as a lone striker and charged skipper Nolan with the task of getting forward to support him.

With Stephen Ireland among their ranks for the first time on his 24th birthday, the visitors arrived having been installed once again as one of the candidates to push the big boys all the way, and their afternoon might have turned out differently had they taken the glorious opportunity which came their way with just 10 minutes gone.

Keeper Steve Harper was stunned to see referee Martin Atkinson pointing to the spot after Ashley Young had gone down as he attempted to round him.

Few inside St James’ Park expected anything other than Carew to ram the resulting spot-kick into the back of the net, but the striker blasted his effort high over the bar.

Just how costly the miss would prove became abundantly clear before half-time as the Magpies made the most of their great escape.

There were just two more minutes on the clock when Barton picked up the ball 30 yards out, made a little ground and steadied himself before smashing a dipping right-foot shot over Brad Friedel’s despairing dive.

The noise inside the stadium rekindled memories of loftier days on Tyneside, and there was even better to come.

Jose Enrique, who has spent the early part of the game trying to keep flying winger Marc Albrighton at bay and largely succeeding, got forward down the left and delivered an inviting cross to the back post for Carroll to head back towards Nolan.

The midfielder’s initial effort was parried by Friedel, but Nolan responded swiftly to head the rebound home from four yards.

Carroll did not have to wait long for his chance and when it arrived two minutes later, he was not found wanting.

Richard Dunne failed to clear Mike Williamson’s header back across goal from a Barton corner and the ball dropped perfectly for the striker to thump a left-foot drive home.

Villa left the field reflecting on a half during which they had enjoyed plenty of possession, but done too little with it, and on a defensive display which verged on the criminally negligent.

Newcastle returned in confident mood, but all the while aware that the visitors still represented a threat, although there was little evidence of that as the game approached the hour mark, prompting Emile Heskey’s arrival in place of Albrighton.

Indeed, the Magpies would have been further ahead with 62 minutes gone had Friedel not made a vital save from Wayne Routledge after Carroll and Nolan had combined superbly on halfway to play him in.

The respite was only temporary, however, and when Williamson helped the ball over the top into the penalty area five minutes later, Carroll lashed his second home from close range.

The whistle could not come soon enough for the visitors, but it did so only after Nolan had toe-poked home a fifth and Carroll had completed his hat-trick from substitute Xisco’s pass on a remarkable afternoon on Tyneside.

Newcastle United are reportedly planning to re-sign former loan star Marlon Harewood on a free transfer from Aston Villa in the summer.

The striker is set to leave Villa Park on a Bosman in the close season and the Magpies are understood to be keen to bring him back to the club after their promotion to the Premier League.

Harewood scored five goals in 15 appearances for the Magpies during a three-month loan spell earlier this season.

However, United boss Chris Hughton had to scrap plans to sign him in January when the forward broke his foot in training.

The former Nottingham Forest man is now fully fit but Villa are happy to let him move on to get his £27,000-a-week salary off their wage bill.

Newcastle United keeper Steve Harper is desperate to collect a Coca-Cola Championship winner’s medal as well as return to the Barclays Premier League.

Harper has called on his teammates to ensure they pick up the points needed to repel West Brom’s challenge, starting with a win at home to Ian Holloway’s play-off chasing Blackpool on Saturday.

Speaking on the Give Me Football site, the 35-year-old said: “We have got to see it through now. We need six or seven points, so that’s the next aim, starting on Saturday.”

He added: “To bounce back at the first opportunity is a big achievement, to be promoted with six games left is fantastic and testament to a lot of hard work from the manager, his staff, everybody behind the scenes and the players in that dressing room.

“There will be some celebrating for a couple of days before we get our minds back on the job.

“We have achieved our first aim, now we have got to achieve the next one, which is to go on and win the league.”

Shola Ameobi was once again the Newcastle United matchwinner as the Magpies made it seven points out nine in their Championship quest.

That’s four goals in five days at St James’ Park for the gangly striker as Sheffield Wednesday slipped to their first defeat following two opening draws.

But this was no plain sailing for Newcastle as they had Fabricio Coloccini, Alan Smith and Steven Taylor all cautioned against the hard-working Hillsborough outfit in front of a crowd of 44,904.

The big difference was in defence where Newcastle were rock solid as they kept successive clean sheets.

Wednesday only had one real chance of any merit, a late chance for substitute Francis Jeffers that was blocked by Steve Harper.

Joey Barton failed to recover from the knock he picked up during Saturday’s win over Reading which meant Ryan Taylor switched to his midfield slot on the right and there was a debut at right-back for Manchester United loan player Danny Simpson.

Wednesday were unchanged from the side that drew 1-1 at Peterborough.

Newcastle attacked from the off and Kevin Nolan finished off as fine move by driving just over.

Wednesday got back into the game and the determination of Harper and Steven Taylor was necessary to crowd out Sean McAllister, who only managed to fire high and wide under pressure.

Skipper Smith was booked after 14 minutes following a rash challenge and from the Wednesday free-kick, it was Newcastle who ultimately went ahead.

Wednesday keeper Lee Grant hit the free-kick straight at Harper who in turn launched it straight downfield where it was headed on by Andy Carroll and Ameobi superbly swept the ball beyond Grant.

Ameobi then came close to a second goal a couple of minutes later, rising well to head a Ryan Taylor corner that Grant held just under the bar.

Despite their neat and tidy approach work, Wednesday did little to trouble Harper in the half first as far too often they were let down by a poor final delivery.

Ryan Taylor, yet to open his United account, came close to doing so after 52 minutes when his 25 yard free-kick was acrobatically turned behind by Grant and from the flag-kick a Nolan thunderbolt flew just over the bar.

Carroll limped off after 58 minutes to be replaced by Xisco with United having clearly lost their first-half momentum.

Wednesday looked as if they had a goal in them and came close after 64 minutes when hard-working former Sunderland player Michael Gray’s free-kick was turned behind by Harper.

Wednesday had a wonderful opportunity to draw level four minutes from time as Newcastle desperately lost their way.

A ball over the top was superbly controlled by substitute Jeffers, who worked himself into a shooting only to be denied by a brave Harper block.

Kinnear won’t return to St James’

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Newcastle have confirmed that Joe Kinnear is not returning as manager, following reports that the 62-year-old was poised to resume at the helm as efforts to sell the club continue.

Joe Kinnear: won’t be returning to Newcastle. (GettyImages)

However, the Magpies have released a statement insisting there are no immediate plans to bring Kinnear back.

A statement said: “Reports in the press this morning that Joe Kinnear is to be appointed as Newcastle United manager are not true.

“The position remains that the club is still in the market to be sold and is still negotiating with prospective buyers.”

Meanwhile, experienced midfielder Nicky Butt has become the latest Newcastle player to plead for a resolution to the chaos at the club

The 34-year-old former Manchester United and England star admits he and his team-mates simply do not know what the future holds as owner Mike Ashley waits for prospective buyers to push through a deal.

Butt told the Journal: “I don’t know what to say about the managerial situation.

“The sooner it is resolved, the better – but we have been saying that since mid-January and we are still here, so we will see.

“It’s difficult for some players because they don’t know where their future lies. I think that’s a difficult one.

“But for pre-season, it’s just a case of keeping everyone fit and injury-free, and [caretaker boss] Chris Hughton is doing a good job of that.

“The season is going to be a tough one. It’s a very difficult league we are in now.

“Things won’t be as easy as maybe some people think they will be in the Championship.

“It’s going to be a massive challenge for us, but hopefully it’s one that we are going to be able to match.”

Former skipper Alan Shearer, who took charge for the final eight games of last season, remains ready and willing to take the job, and he continues to enjoy popular support.

However, the prospect of him being appointed before a sale goes through appears to have receded with the consortia currently looking to finalise a deal, adamant they want to install their own manager.

Butt said: “I think the job needs to be (going to) someone of Alan’s stature.

“I do feel Alan is favoured by a lot of people, and I do feel that he would do a very good job.”

In the meantime, vital time is being lost as the process of re-shaping a squad of high wage earners and assimilating replacements remains on hold.

Butt said: “It’s well documented that the club needs a bit more strength in depth, but it’s frustrating because time is running out to bring in players.

“It’s ideal to get players in early doors so that you can bond with them, but it’s frustrating when you are still waiting and almost falling behind other teams.”

Sources at Tyneside have insisted that efforts to secure a deal with prospective buyers, who will then appoint their own manager, are ongoing.

There is, though, a growing realisation within the Tyneside hierarchy that, if a sale does not go through soon, they will have to do something on the managerial front, and that could only be on a temporary basis.

The start of the new season is a little more than three weeks away – the Magpies travel to West Brom on August 8 – and the process of re-shaping the squad is yet to get underway.

Several players have already registered their displeasure with the lack of progress off the field, and some have indicated privately that their patience is wearing thin.

Michael Owen passed up the chance to fire Newcastle to a potentially life-saving victory as Alan Shearer was left staring down the barrel of a gun after a 0-0 draw with Portsmouth.

The 29-year-old striker was denied by veteran goalkeeper David James’ legs after he was played in by Mark Viduka 63 minutes into a pulsating encounter, which both sides had chances to win.

James had earlier saved from Damien Duff, and Viduka and Obafemi Martins both went close on a night when the Magpies needed all three points to rekindle their hopes of Barclays Premier League survival.

However, it might have been even worse for Shearer’s men with Peter Crouch firing straight at Steve Harper with 11 minutes remaining and Richard Hughes heading against the foot of the post three minutes later.

Shearer had set his side the task of winning their remaining three home games to drag themselves out of relegation trouble but, having fallen at the first hurdle, they now face the daunting prospect of having to get something at Liverpool on Sunday.

The 38-year-old made a series of statements ahead of kick-off when he named all three of his big-name strikers – Owen, Viduka and Martins – in his starting line-up and left Kevin Nolan and Ryan Taylor, two of the three men signed during yet another disastrous January transfer window, out of the 18.

He had appealed in advance for passionate support from the stands and he got just that, with the help of a rousing rendition of Blaydon Races from opera star Graeme Danby moments before kick-off.

But what he needed most was a response from his players and he got that too.

Newcastle took the game to Pompey from the off and, what they lacked in guile and craft in the middle of the park, they made up for in effort and commitment.

That they went in at half-time with nothing to show for their efforts was down to a combination of poor finishing, good defending and one excellent save from Shearer’s former England team-mate James.

However, the applause they received as they left the pitch could only serve to increase their determination not to be denied once they returned.

With Pompey fielding Crouch as a lone striker and, at times, getting all 11 men behind the ball, the Magpies had to remain patient.

Alan Smith, still waiting for his first goal in a black and white shirt, had optimistic appeals for a penalty waved away by referee Mike Riley when his driven 30th-minute shot was blocked by Hermann Hreidarsson’s arm, and the former Manchester United midfielder fired just over five minutes later.

In the meantime, Viduka only just failed to turn a low drive from substitute Danny Guthrie, on for injured full-back Jose Enrique, past James.

But Newcastle’s best two chances of the half came inside the final seven minutes, James making a fine save to push Duff’s goal-bound effort around the post, while Martins saw a close-range shot deflected over the bar with seconds remaining.

Pompey created little as they attempted to hit their hosts on the counter-attack, although Harper had to tip a 33rd-minute curler from Sean Davis over the bar.

Viduka was presented with a glorious chance to open the scoring within seconds of the restart after Owen cleverly back-heeled Martins’ pass into his path.

However, the Australian could only stab his effort straight at James as the blue shirts closed on him.

Fabricio Coloccini endured a heart-stopping moment when Crouch went to ground inside the box under his 50th-minute challenge but, again, Riley was in no mood to award a spot-kick.

James was alert enough to prevent Martins from reaching a long ball four minutes later, if only just, but, as the game became increasingly stretched, play switched rapidly from end to end.

The Pompey keeper almost handed Newcastle a glorious chance on a plate when he dropped Duff’s cross with Viduka and Owen close at hand, although he redeemed himself with 63 minutes gone.

Viduka managed to squeeze the ball through the Portsmouth defence, despite having been wrestled to the ground, to leave Owen with just the keeper to beat, but James blocked with his legs to leave Shearer with his head in his hands.

The manager introduced Andy Carroll and Jonas Gutierrez for Viduka and Nicky Butt in a desperate attempt to find a winner but it was Nadir Belhadj who forced a fine fingertip save from Harper after a lightning 73rd-minute break.

Carroll looped a 77th-minute header high over but it was Pompey who staged the grandstand finish that might have resulted in victory had Crouch been able to beat Harper or had Hughes’ header landed six inches to the right.

Newcastle United manager Alan Shearer is hoping forgotten man Joey Barton can revitalise his midfield just when he needs it most.

The 26-year-old former Manchester City player is expected to return to full training later this week after recovering from a fractured metatarsal and would then be in contention for the make-or-break Premier League clash with Portsmouth next Monday evening.

The Magpies midfield has lacked penetration in recent months, leaving the club’s strikers starved of meaningful possession, so the return of a man who is yet to even start paying off his £5.8m transfer fee cannot come soon enough.

At his peak with City, Barton both scored and created goals, and Shearer is desperate for him to do just that as his side prepare for their final five games of the campaign, with three of them must-win affairs at St James’ Park.

The manager said: “Joey has had treatment all over the weekend and if everything goes well with him over the next few days, we might have him in full training on Thursday or Friday.

“He can also run on and get past the forwards, which, with all due respect, Nicky Butt, who is 34, can’t do.

“He does well in other jobs that he does, but he can’t get past the forwards, and if Joey is there to do that, then it would free up some other players.”

Barton was signed by former boss Sam Allardyce in July 2007, but has managed only 31 appearances since as a result of injuries and his spell in prison.

Just five of his 25 starts have come this season with knee and foot problems having severely restricted his attempts to belatedly prove his worth on Tyneside.

“With all problems created by him, I don’t wish he’ll be in the NU’s 1st eleven… But what can we hope for? We dont hv enough character in our squad… – atoksyah “

By Simon Bird, the Daily Mirror’s man in the North-east 15/04/2009

Read Simon Bird’s north-east football column exclusively on Mirror.co.uk every Wednesday

 

Alan Shearer’s appointment as Newcastle boss may not yet have saved the Magpies, but it seems some old battle lines have been re-drawn.

On Tyneside, there is no doubt that Shearer has united the club for the final six games. He’s given renewed focus on the terraces and, until the end of the season at least, he has calmed an incendiary situation and given United a chance of escaping relegation.

But outside the region opinions seem divided. About the former No9 and his merits as a boss. About Newcastle United and its fans.

So perhaps it is time for a bit of myth-busting about Newcastle United, as this crazy season reaches a climax.

Here are a few theories punted by some observers in the last two weeks, that rile the local faithful the most:

a) Geordie fans think they are the special ones: special club, special fans. They think they have a divine right to be in the top flight, and be successful – but they’re not really a big club.

b) The club is run on the basis of tapping into the sentimentality of fools. One former legend or big name after another is trusted with reviving the teams fortunes, and reviving hope on the terraces, instead of finding a proper coach and sticking with him long term.

c) Shearer is a dour egotist who has only taken the helm to pocket a huge bonus if they stay up, and to walk away blameless if they go down.

I admit that Newcastle deserve almost all the muck thrown at them this season. It’s been an awful season to watch unfold – one that Les Ferdinand described last week as the most “mad, crazy and chaotic in the history of football”.

Owner Mike Ashley has stripped the club of its dignity (and a good few talented players), made stupid appointments and bad investments, and given the circumstances it will be a miracle if United pull through. The criticism will be hard, unremitting and deserved.

But some charges don’t add up. What riles the most is the mocking tone that seeps through from some quarters that somehow what Newcastle United, Alan Shearer and its fans stand for is a bit sad these day. That there is something that’s wrong with what the club is all about.

I have never heard Newcastle fans claiming to be more special than the next club. Or that they are more loyal or more deserving of success than others. Instead I hear them marvelling at the noise at Anfield, and even Stoke last weekend. Expressing appreciation for the job David Moyes has done at Everton.

I see 50,000 turning up every week to watch an ailing club who have not won anything for 40 years. I see regional tribalism at its magnificent best, especially among the away supporters.

I see a fan base passionate about its local community and ready to defend its place in the world, whether that be their football club or the merits of living and working on Tyneside.

I live in a city consumed by the state of its football team. Its only football team. And everywhere you turn it is the main subject of debate.

I see the same passions down the road at bitter rivals Sunderland, even though the two sets of fans, who regionally and economically share the same concerns and wishes, will never see eye to eye.

In my book, that is what supporting a club is all about.

Senitimental? What is wrong with finding a playing icon like Shearer – who taps in to and understands the Geordie tribalism – and making him boss? Likewise Sir Bobby Robson. Local heroes who can galvanise a city.

And what about that often posed accusation – Shearer can’t lose, he’s doing it for the money? No chance. He doesn’t need the extra million quid. He doesn’t need the aggravation.

But when he looked from the outside at the desperate situation Newcastle were in, he couldn’t walk away once asked to help out.

He’s stepped into the storm and is trying to guide a team he hasn’t bought, for an owner he has criticised, out of a dire league situation not of his making. That doesn’t sound like a cushy ego trip to me.

Newcastle bring more than most to the Premiership table. They are way more entertaining to cover than the top four.

The ups and downs, the extremes of emotions, the chaos. But also the precious good times. Like being one goal away from the Champions’ League quarter finals, 20 minutes away from the UEFA Cup semi-final. (It’s easy to forget both happened in the last five years)

The Premier League will miss Newcastle if they go down. For the madness, for the black and white hordes, for the big personalities and because – love or loathe them – the club is box-office.

Despite the way they have been run this season, the neutral should be praying they remain part of the top flight circus.

Alan Shearer is confident Newcastle United will avoid relegation but admits Saturday’s defeat by Chelsea underlined the magnitude of the task at St James’ Park.

The former England striker has just seven games to save the team from dropping into the Championship after being appointed manager until the end of the season.

However, Saturday’s 2-0 loss means the Magpies are deep in trouble and currently sit third from bottom of the Barclays Premier League, three points from safety.

Shearer though retains faith in his team and told the BBC: “It’s a tough job, I don’t think it is a poisoned chalice.

“I’ve got confidence in the players I’ve taken over for a short period of time. Yes, they are low on confidence. It’s a huge job but I’m still confident we can avoid the drop.

“I learned that when you give mistakes away in this league you get punished.

“I learned confidence at times is perhaps not as high as it should be so I’ve got a few more days before the next game where we can work on that.

“We are going to have to improve – we need wins and we need them quickly.”

The 38-year-old was able to bring Michael Owen into his starting line-up and believes his former England colleague still has an international future despite being overlooked by Fabio Capello.

“I really do,” Shearer said. “I still think he is the best goalscorer around.”

However, such was the force of the opposition yesterday, Owen had few clear chances although he was convinced his 73rd-minute shot had crossed the line before Ashley Cole hooked clear.

Shearer has also refused to make any points target for survival.

“No, I don’t (know) because when you look at the league there are going to be so many twists and turns between now and the end of the season I’m not sure what is going to be enough,” he said.

“But we have to get our first win and see where that takes us.”

The Magpies’ record goalscorer is adamant he will only be there until the end of the season, saying: “I’ve considered a few things up to now and you can never tell what is going to happen in the future.

“This is for the eight games and the eight games only and I’ll be back on Match of the Day next year.”

Shearer’s Match of the Day colleague Alan Hansen believes he can succeed, saying: “Yes, I honestly think he will keep them up.

“I think Alan can handle most things, I think he has gone into this situation knowing they are in dire straits.

“But I think he thinks Newcastle are better than where they are.

“They’ve got some winnable games coming up – it’s his job to galvanise the team and to galvanise the supporters and put them on the pitch and start winning some football matches.

“Alan Shearer is quite an inspirational figure, when you talk to him you tend to listen.”

Shearer’s former England team-mate David James admits to being taken aback by the short time the ex-Southampton and Blackburn forward plans to be at St James’ Park.

The Portsmouth keeper, who also has plans to break into management in the future, said: “The surprise if anything is the fact it is only for eight games.

“Without wishing him too much luck – especially with our game – but I would like to wish him luck as a former team-mate.

“But I have ambitions of being a manager one day and if I take over if the opportunity arises, then it is for the long haul not just for a short period of time.

“So it will be interesting to see how it pans out. But for eight games – it is not a great deal of time.”