Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has warned that Newcastle must start to score more goals to stave off the imminent threat of relegation.
Shearer, who scored a club record 206 goals in 10 years in black and white, delivered the stark warning in his BBC Sport column just 24 hours after the 1-0 win over Manchester United that provided a huge lift to all connected with Newcastle.
Newcastle have scored just 25 times in 27 games, with budget restrictions reducing Rafa Benitez to relying on Joselu and Dwight Gayle to carry the goalscoring burden in the first half of the campaign, and Shearer is concerned that his former club’s profligacy in front of goal could result in relegation.
“It has been obvious all season that Newcastle need more firepower and, although it worked against Manchester United, scoring one goal will not get them a win every week,” the former Newcastle number nine wrote.
“It was not enough against Burnley in their previous home game when Newcastle created lots of chances and missed a penalty, only to see their 1-0 lead pegged back in the final few minutes.
“The reason they managed to hold on this time was down to their spirit and resilience, which are both positives, but they are going to need more goals to go with that too.”
Benitez will hope Islam Slimani is fit and firing for the trip to Bournemouth where the Algerian could make his Newcastle debut following an loan move from Leicester.
