In their last home game of the season on Monday night, St. James’ Park created a brilliant atmosphere as Newcastle delivered the death knell on Arsenal’s top-four hopes with a 2-0 win.

 

The home crowd were bouncing as the Magpies produced a brilliant performance and Magpies legend Shearer is delighted to see the fans being so happy again at Newcastle after a long time.

 

 

Shearer credited Howe for understanding what the fans wanted from their club the minute he walked into the building and the supporters were also prepared to give him time to get things right.

 

The former striker insisted that Newcastle is a football-mad city and finally they have a team that they can believe in, which is largely down to the manager and the new owners.

 

 

Shearer said on Premier League TV: “New owners have come in, investment in January, a manager that comes in who understood straight away what the club are, what the fans need and what they haven’t had in the past.

 

“He got that straight away, the fans responded.

 

 

“It wasn’t great going out of the FA Cup but he didn’t panic and the fans didn’t panic. They understand it’s going to take a little bit of time.

 

“And the excitement is back, you can see that you can feel that before the game and you can feel that in the days leading up to the game.

 

“The atmosphere is there again.

 

“It’s brilliant to see as it’s a football-mad city, they live and breathe their football and they want some belief in their football club.

 

“And thanks goodness they have got that back.”

 

Newcastle could finish in the top half of the league table if they win at Burnley on Sunday and other results go their way.