Alan Shearer backs Jaissle and suggests Newcastle may need more signings

Alan Shearer has backed Newcastle’s start under Matthias Jaissle, calling for patience with our young squad and suggesting another one or two signings may be needed.

Our record goalscorer was encouraged by the response to the Leeds defeat in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Hull, picking out both our impressive opening spell and the fight shown to see out the result.

Shearer gives his verdict on Newcastle’s start

Speaking to Sky Sports, Shearer described the start as solid, while explaining why he expects an inconsistent season:

“Solid, yeah. I think because of how young he is, because of how young the squad is and the huge turnover, I think it’ll be an up-and-down season. I think there are going to be times where we’re going to have to be patient. I know that’s really difficult for football fans, but we are. And I think the start has given us all of that.

“I mean, it was really disappointing at Leeds, but the way they fought against Hull in the last 20 or 25 minutes... the way they responded in the first half an hour against Hull, I thought was really impressive. So, yeah, all in all, I think it’s been a solid start.”

On giving Newcastle’s new signings time to settle, Shearer added:

“Yeah, absolutely. Of course, a lot of them are so young and they’re coming into a league that they haven’t played in before. The manager’s got to try and understand who and what he’s working with. So, yeah, it will take time.

“Maybe also might take one or two other signings and whether that’s January or whether that’s at the end of the season, but I think patience without doubt will be needed at times this season.”

Progress makes patience easier

That assessment is consistent with Big Al’s comments after Leeds, when he stood by his mid-table prediction despite describing the performance as unacceptable.

Saturday offered a much stronger argument for giving this group time. The early goals from Joe Willock and Lewis Hall showed what we can produce going forward, while protecting the lead through a difficult second half required the fight that had been missing at Elland Road.

We still need to control games for longer, and Shearer’s suggestion that further additions may be needed is understandable.

For now, eight points from five league games gives Jaissle a reasonable platform. Patience is easier to ask for when supporters can see something developing, and the task is to make that opening spell against Hull a more regular feature of our performances.