Alan Shearer delivers honest Matthias Jaissle & Newcastle United verdict - it's hard to disagree

Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has admitted Magpies supporters may have to show their patience as Matthias Jaissle’s young side look to impress in the Premier League this season.

The former Al-Ahli head coach was named as successor to Eddie Howe in July and he has been tasked with helping a number of new signings settle into life in England after the United squad underwent a transformation during the summer transfer window.

The likes of Bazoumana Toure, Lukas Hornicek and Sean Steur all joined the Magpies during the close-season and they have experienced mixed fortunes during the opening month of Jaissle’s first season in charge at St James’ Park. Saturday’s hard-earned win against Hull City left the Magpies sitting in the top half of the table ahead of the first international break of the campaign - and the performance summed up the challenges facing Jaissle this season.

After making a blistering start to the contest and taking a two-goal lead inside the opening ten minutes thanks to efforts from Lewis Hall and Joe Willock, the Magpies could and should have stretched their lead to three when Yoane Wissa had a penalty saved just before half-time. Hull improved after the restart and put pressure on a youthful United side that has been hit by injuries to a number of key players and halved the deficit when Mohamed-Ali Cho midway through the second-half.

To their credit, Newcastle saw off some late pressure from their visitors to ensure they moved on from their disappointing defeat at Leeds United just days earlier and that meant they have lost just one of their first five games under their new German head coach. Shearer assessed the fortunes of his old club during the first month of the season and admitted patience is required from everyone connected with the club as they look to build on what he called ‘a solid start’.

‘All-in-all, it’s been a solid start’

Speaking to Sky Sports News at a golf day that will raise funds for the Alan Shearer Foundation, the former Magpies captain said: “I think because of how young he is [Jaissle], because of how young the squad is and the huge turnover, I think it will be an up and down season. There are going to be times where we are going to have to be patient. I know that’s really difficult for football fans but we are. I think the start has given us all of that. 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. All-in-all, it’s been a solid start.

“A lot of them are so young and they’re coming into a league where they haven’t played before. The manager has got to try and understand who and what he’s working with so it will take time. It make take one or two other signings, whether that’s January or whether that’s at the end of the season - but patience without doubt is needed this season.”

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