Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker share Sunderland joke whilst discussing Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips

The BBC duo – alongside Micah Richards – were discussing the best strike partnerships in Premier League history on the Match of the Day podcast.

Goalscoring duos such as Harry Kane and Son Heung-min featured on the list alongside Sunderland favourites Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips

The pair were essential to Sunderland's success in the late 1990s and early 2000s and formed a formidable partnership under then manager Peter Reid.

And former Newcastle United legend Shearer was quick to praise the pair despite his Tyneside roots but also couldn’t help cracking a light-hearted joke alongside host Lineker.

On the pair, Shearer said: “And that was the way they played up at Sunderland.

“They would get the ball to the big Quinny and Phillips was picking up the scraps in and around him and bringing him into play.

“Whether it was a flick on or his touch. Quinny was a good player. Probably underrated in terms of his touch. But Phillips, the understanding that he had with him.

“He had the knack of being able to put it in the back of the net and the understanding of those two.

Lineker then interjected saying: “You’ve put them down at nine because it’s Sunderland… it’s obvious.

Shearer responded: “Well I should have put them at ten really! I thought I’d be kind to them!

“Again, though, people knew what was going to happen but they couldn’t stop it.”

Lineker added: “Yeah, that’s very true.”

A message from the Football Clubs Editor

Our aim is to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative football coverage 365 days a year.

This depth of coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to, please consider taking out a subscription; sign up here.

Your support is much appreciated. Richard Mennear, Football Clubs Editor