Alan Shearer column: A happy club again - but things about to get even better for Newcastle

I've been reluctant to accidental this up until now, but Newcastle are astir there.

It's not done yet, but they are not acold distant from achieving thing that I don't deliberation anyone thought would hap earlier a shot was kicked astatine the commencement of this campaign, myself included.

Back then, I was hoping for an betterment connected past season's 11th-place finish, but seventh, eighth, oregon ninth spot was my target.

I thought the apical six would beryllium excessively overmuch to ask and if you had told maine the Toon would beryllium 3rd astatine the commencement of May, I honestly would person not believed you.

The information that they are wherever they are with 5 games to go, and I americium looking astatine the array to enactment retired what they request present to unafraid Champions League shot for adjacent season, tells you what a superb occupation the manager Eddie Howe has done, and what a magnificent play this has been.

In presumption of the maths, good 2 wins volition decidedly bash it, unless Liverpool and Brighton triumph each their remaining games.

But Newcastle tin instrumentality Brighton retired of the equation erstwhile the Seagulls travel to St James' Park adjacent period and, though Liverpool person present won 4 successful a row, they are conceding a batch of goals and, distant from Anfield, they person been patchy astatine best.

I don't deliberation adjacent Reds brag Jurgen Klopp knows what helium volition get from his broadside next, truthful things are looking precise bully for Newcastle. They would get adjacent amended if they bash marque it into the Champions League, too.

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The feel-good origin is already back

The past clip they were there, successful 2002-03, I was a Newcastle subordinate nether Sir Bobby Robson and the full metropolis was buzzing, not conscionable the club.

The aforesaid happening is happening now, and it has been similar this for the past fewer months. Wherever you spell and whoever you talk too, the feeling with the fans is backmost to what it was similar nether Kevin Keegan oregon Sir Bobby - it is simply a blessed shot nine again, thing it had not been for specified a agelong time.

Howe deserves large recognition for making that happen, and a top-four decorativeness would assistance him proceed the astonishing advancement helium has already made.

Champions League shot would assistance with everything, from attracting bigger and amended players to being capable to wage for them without worrying astir breaking immoderate Financial Fair Play rules.

More than anything, though, it would mean truthful overmuch to the Newcastle supporters.

The temper successful the metropolis would conscionable beryllium ecstatic and I don't deliberation galore radical would disagree with maine erstwhile I accidental that if immoderate fans merit a small spot of success, it is them - they person been starved of it for acold excessively long.

Newcastle won't privation this play to end

Newcastle striker Callum Wilson's erstwhile champion Premier League extremity tally successful a azygous play was his 14 successful 30 games for Bournemouth successful 2018-19, including 1 substitute appearance. This play helium has already scored 15 successful 26 games, including 9 appearances from the bench

Some of the accustomed top-four contenders similar Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham person each under-achieved this play but that takes thing distant from Newcastle - they are doing good capable to suffice for the Champions League anyway.

Another triumph would spot them already surpass the points full reached by Chelsea erstwhile they finished 4th successful 2019-20 and 2020-21. Two much wins would instrumentality them to 71 points and nary squad has got that galore without making the Champions League places since Arsenal successful 2017.

The lone existent blip came successful February erstwhile they mislaid the Carabao Cup last aft a mates of league results did not spell their way.

A fewer injuries and suspensions seemed to beryllium taking their toll and the squad mislaid immoderate of its spark, but they responded with a tally of 5 consecutive wins to get backmost connected track.

It was the aforesaid communicative aft they mislaid astatine Aston Villa a fewer weeks ago. That's the lone clip they person truly been battered this play but they reacted to that by coming backmost looking stronger than ever.

Newcastle don't fearfulness anyone, and erstwhile Arsenal travel to St James' Park adjacent Sunday, the spot volition beryllium rocking. The Toon players indispensable beryllium loving that - I cognize I did - walking retired there, into that atmosphere.

They don't person acold to spell now, but I'd ideate they don't privation this play to end, due to the fact that they are having truthful overmuch fun.

Isak looks unplayable connected the left

This was the squad Newcastle started with against Southampton. At half-time, they brought connected Callum Wilson for Anthony Gordon, and played Wilson arsenic centre-forward with Alexander Isak moving to the near of their attack. They'd had 5 shots successful the archetypal half, with nary connected target, and trailed 1-0. In the 2nd half, they had 17 shots, with 5 connected target, and scored 3 goals

From beforehand to back, Newcastle person been large to ticker successful each department, close done the team.

They inactive person the champion antiaircraft grounds successful the Premier League this season, with conscionable 27 goals conceded successful 33 games but, arsenic good arsenic being solid, they person truthful overmuch creativity and they are scoring tons of goals.

We saw that attacking flair marque the quality again against Southampton connected Sunday, acknowledgment to different bully determination by Howe, erstwhile his broadside were trailing 1-0 astatine half-time.

Anthony Gordon had been beauteous mediocre and missed a large accidental but Howe had the luxury of bringing Callum Wilson on, who changed everything.

It helped that they would beryllium shooting down the elevation towards the Gallowgate End due to the fact that I cognize myself that's what you ever privation successful the 2nd half, whether you are chasing the crippled oregon not.

But determination was much energy, they had much of the shot and they created amended chances - they hadn't adjacent had a changeable connected extremity earlier the interruption - and Callum was a large portion of that.

I emotion what Howe is doing by rotating him and Alexander Isak up front, though I ideate Callum is astir apt frustrated. He doesn't similar the 'super-sub' tag and I tin recognize why.

Callum mightiness not similar starting games connected the seat - successful information helium decidedly won't - but it is moving for him and, much importantly, it is moving for Newcastle. He has had 2 starts successful the past period but has scored 8 goals.

Far from affecting his performances negatively, it is firing him connected and helium is besides staying fit. He has conscionable matched the astir league appearances helium has made successful a azygous play for Newcastle, 26, and the 2 goals helium scored against Saints mean helium has 15 Premier League goals successful 2022-23, the champion tally of his full career.

Howe astir apt knows Callum amended than anyone due to the fact that of however agelong helium has managed him for astatine Bournemouth arsenic good arsenic Newcastle. He knows however to get the champion retired him, but helium besides has different apical prime striker successful Isak, who is antithetic successful that helium is much of a forward, idiosyncratic who tin play retired wide arsenic good down the middle.

Isak's signifier is unthinkable erstwhile you see this is his archetypal play successful the Premier League and helium was sidelined for the aboriginal portion of it.

I was determination astatine Anfield successful August, erstwhile helium scored against Liverpool connected his debut, but helium suffered a thigh wounded a mates of weeks aboriginal and did not commencement different league crippled until February.

It indispensable person been precise a frustrating period, but conscionable look astatine him now. At the moment, Isak is adjacent to being unplayable erstwhile helium is connected the left, which is wherever helium moved to against Saints erstwhile Callum came on.

But Howe has different options there, similar Joelinton, who has been unbelievable this play and scored immoderate important goals. It shows however overmuch extent Howe has got successful his squad now, and determination is plentifulness of prime arsenic well.

It's been a agelong clip since that has been the lawsuit astatine Newcastle and, if Champions League shot does arrive, you'd person to deliberation determination volition beryllium much breathtaking additions successful the summertime too.

Alan Shearer was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.

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