Former Newcastle United trio could join Alan Shearer in Premier League Hall of Fame

Former Newcastle United striker Les Ferdinand has been nominated to join a number of his old team-mates in the Premier League Hall of Fame.

The 17-times capped England international was a regular goalscorer during his playing career after wreaking havoc on Premier League defenders in the colours of Queens Park Rangers, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Leicester City.

However, it was a two-year stay at Newcastle that remains closest to his heart as Ferdinand led the line in a Magpies side that was set up to provide chance after chance for their £6m star. After moving to Tyneside during the summer of 1995, Ferdinand was voted as PFA Player of the Year during his first season at St James Park as Kevin Keegan’s side were pipped to the Premier League title by Manchester United.

After being partnered with Alan Shearer ahead of his second season, Ferdinand continued his fine form in front of goal as the duo netted 49 goals during what would be their only season playing alongside each other in the famous black and white stripes. Ferdinand was sold to Spurs during the following summer - but he still reflects on his time on Tyneside with fondness.

Speaking about his time at Newcastle and his relationship with Kevin Keegan, Ferdinand admitted the former Magpies boss needed little time to prove a move to St James Park would be beneficial for his career.

He told the Proper Football Podcast: “Kevin Keegan was a lovely bloke – but he had a brutal side as well. When I met Kevin, I was sold (on a move to Newcastle) inside five minutes. I thought if I was going to learn from someone then who better after the career he had. I always felt I would score wherever I went and had proven myself in the Premier League.

“Newcastle at the time were up and coming and when I found out where he wanted to take them, I thought ‘this is me’. He did not hold back the punches. If you had not played well in the first half, he would stand at the entrance to the dressing room and he would be rolling up his sleeves. You just knew someone, or maybe two or three, was going to get a roasting!”

Ferdinand is one of 15 former Premier League stars up for nomination to join the likes of Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry and Steven Gerrard in the Premier League Hall of Fame. Also up for nomination this year are former Magpies strikers Andrew Cole and Michael Owen, Wallsend Boys Club graduate Michael Carrick and Chelsea legend John Terry.