Soccer
Newcastle must show improvement to replicate top-four heroics, claims Alan Shearer
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Newcastle United have “massive room for improvement” despite a solid start to the Premier League season, with Alan Shearer warning they must knuckle down for a top-four finish.
The Magpies have taken two wins from their opening three fixtures, recording victories over Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur either side of a draw with Bournemouth.
Additionally, Eddie Howe’s men are into the third round of the EFL Cup after they saw off fellow top-flight outfit Nottingham Forest on penalties last month.
But the manner of their performance has not convinced Shearer, who believes they must step up their performances quickly if they hope to mount a challenge.
“Without playing well, Newcastle have had a good start to the season,” Shearer told Betfair. “I was at St James' Park on Sunday though, and I thought they were fortunate.
“The thing that impressed me is the togetherness and the will to win, because without playing well, we’ve not lost yet and have seven points.
“If Newcastle click, then that can only be a good thing because we’ve done okay so far, but there's massive room for improvement.
“[They] are another team that will have to be really lucky with injuries, which we weren't last season.
“I think that'll be the difference if Newcastle are going to sustain a challenge for fourth or fifth place.”
Newcastle secured UEFA Champions League football after a fourth-place finish during the 2022-23 campaign, but struggled to match that result last term.
They finished seventh and missed out on Europe after eighth-place Manchester United secured UEFA Europa League football with victory in the FA Cup Final.
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