Alan Shearer is supportive of Newcastle United backing Eddie Howe to lead the club next season.

Alan Shearer is happy that Eddie Howe looks set to stay on as Newcastle United manager.

With the Magpies sitting 13th, the Toon boss has been under the pump at St James’ Park. PIF officials jetted to Tyneside last week for a high-stakes meeting at Matfen Hall and, unsurprisingly, one of the hot topics was Howe’s future.

It is understood that the owners back Howe and received their first seal of approval at the weekend. Yasir Al-Rumayyan fronted a PIF delegation that watched Newcastle beat Brighton 3-1 to end a five-game losing streak.

Alan Shearer delivers Eddie Howe verdict

Speaking to The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer backed Howe to lead the summer rebuild. Last month, the Newcastle legend predicted him not to be in the dugout next season.

"What I did say was that, all things being equal, I want him to be there but he has to want to be there himself,” Shearer said. "I gather the meeting they had, because all the top brass were in Newcastle last week for two or three days, by all accounts went really well for both parties.

“That tells me that if it is true, and I gather it is, Eddie was happy with what he heard and they were happy with what they heard from Eddie as well. If there's one manager who deserves the chance to go again and say, 'Ok, we've had a bad season, fine.'

“Recruitment hasn't helped last summer, we all know that, and it has been a really tough season. The quicker it ends for Newcastle, the better, so they can start planning for next season. I am pleased that, if it is true and sounds like it is, that Eddie is going to be at the helm to do that."

What Alan Shearer said about Eddie Howe

“The players were terrible,” Shearer said after the defeat to Bournemouth. “As tough as it is for Eddie, I don't know what's going to happen with him. I listened to his interview afterwards, I looked at him and I just thought ‘Is he going to want to go again? Is he going to get a chance to go again?’

“As I sit here, I don't see Eddie in charge of Newcastle next season, unfortunately. I look at his interview after the game and I'm not sure the fight is there. I think it's a very different club now to the one that he would want to go for. He doesn't look in a good position.”

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