Toon legend backs other Toon legend to beat the drop

After maintaining radio silence for most of yesterday, Newcastle Utd finally admitted they will be re-employing Alan Shearer for the final eight games of the season. (They also released a separate statement to confirm that Dennis Wise has been sent him with no supper. “There are no plans to appoint a replacement in this role,” they emphasised.)

No one is more delighted by the surprise appointment than Paul Gascoigne, who writes about his old England team mate in today’s Sun:

I would like to think that Big Al’s first team talk would not need to be much.Just looking at the man, and knowing what he has achieved at Newcastle - and throughout his career - should be enough.

You have to respect him, what he has to say and his knowledge of the game.

Gascoigne continued to praise the new manager, and insisted that love of things that are black and white compensates for his lack of experience:

The thing about Alan is that he will have the players eating with black and white knives and forks, driving black and white cars… everything will be black and white.

He has black and white in his veins.

The Spoiler believes that Shearer’s appointment has given the fans the enthusiasm and positivity they desperately need during the run-in, but Gascoigne points out our biggest concern - the players:

It’s up to the players. They have to listen to him and take it on board.

The players currently do not look like they can muster enough points to keep the S.S. Newcastle afloat, but we will soon find out if Shearer is the man to get the most out of them.