2026-07-31 08:36:54
Alan Shearer fears that there will be “challenging times ahead” for Newcastle following Eddie Howe’s departure as manager.
The Magpies legend is expecting a tough campaign for his former club as Howe’s exit follows that of key players such as Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali over the past year.
Writing in a column for BBC Sport, Shearer said: “Speaking purely as a fan, I think we have to get ready for a tough season and some very challenging times ahead.
“I don’t know exactly what has gone on behind the scenes for this to happen now but I guess, from his point of view, he was seeing his best players being sold – first Isak, then Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali this summer – and with speculation over captain Bruno Guimaraes’ future too.
“He has probably thought it was a tough enough job anyway, but it is just getting tougher. You cannot keep on selling your best players and then hope to be in contention at the top of the table – I hope I’m wrong but it is probably inevitable that Bruno will be next to leave.”
Shearer thanked Howe – who is set to be replaced by Al-Ahli coach Matthias Jaissle – for giving him one of the best days of his life as a Newcastle fan with the 2025 Carabao Cup final win over Liverpool that saw the club claim their first domestic silverware for 70 years.
He said: “Eddie will always be a legend in the eyes of the Geordie public for ending our long wait for a major trophy with that epic day he gave us at Wembley when we won the Carabao Cup in 2025.
“I had craved that moment for my entire life. I had been to Wembley before as a Toon player and I had been there before as a Toon fan, and we’d all had the same feeling of walking away empty-handed.”
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