Alan Shearer’s Newcastle United verdict that Arsenal, Aston Villa & Man City won’t agree on

Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has insisted Magpies boss Eddie Howe should be named as Premier League manager of the season after leading his side into the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.

With pre-season predictions suggesting a top half finish and a good cup run was the limit of United’s expectations, Howe’s men have produced one of the most memorable campaigns in the club’s Premier League history by seeing off the challenges of Liverpool, Brighton, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur to land a top four place.

That is all a far cry from the scene at St James Park when Howe succeeded Steve Bruce in the home dugout with the Magpies sat firmly in the relegation zone in the opening months of the 2021/22 season. After leading his side to safety with six games to go, the former Bournemouth boss has continued that momentum into his first full campaign in charge and has followed in the footsteps of Kenny Dalglish and Sir Bobby Robson by helping United qualify for European football’s elite club competition.

Shearer reflected on the mood that enveloped Tyneside prior to Howe’s arrival and praised the Magpies manager for the ‘outstanding job’ he has overseen during his time at St James Park.

Speaking on Match of the Day on Sunday night, the Magpies all-time record goalscorer said: “(He is) manager of the season for me. The way he has galvanised the city, he mentioned the unity, he has created that. Where they were 18 months ago, when there was a real chance of them being relegated, for them now to have finished fourth and have Champions League football, a lot of the players he has improved that were already there, he’s done an outstanding job and deserves all of the credit he’s got and is getting.”

Mikel Arteta, Roberto De Zerbi, Unai Emery, Pep Guardiola, Eddie Howe and Marco Silva.

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