The video will start in 8 Cancel

Get the latest NUFC transfer and takeover news straight to your inbox for FREE by signing up to our newsletter Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Rafa Benitez is “desperate to be the man” to turn Newcastle United around and the club have a “big opportunity” to progress which they must capitalise upon, believes Alan Shearer.

Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Leeds United at Elland Road saw the Magpies record their ninth straight victory and all competitions, while Benitez’s side increased their lead at the top of the Championship to five points in the process.

And the Magpies’ all-time record goalscorer attributes Newcastle’s on-field success to the club hierarchy finally taking a hands-off approach and allowing Benitez to manage the team however he feels necessary.

Allowing Benitez to get on with the job has resulted in a “buoyant” mood on Tyneside, says Shearer.

“At last the hierarchy have allowed a manager to decide who he wants in and who he wants out,” the 46-year-old wrote in his weekly column in The Sun.

“[They’ve] allowed the manager to get on and manage.

“If, as I hope, we do go up [then] the board have to make sure this continues.

“They have to back him again and let him get on with it.

“This is too important a period, too big an opportunity to let go.

(Image: Clint Hughes/PA Wire)

“I sat down with Rafa Benitez about a month ago for a cup of coffee and a chat.

“We talked about the area, the club, the fans. He loves all of it, particularly the passion and the people.

“He is desperate to be the man to turn this club around.

“It must be reminiscent for him of his time in Liverpool.

“I lived near there in Formby during my time at Blackburn and, like the North East, it is a place where people really love their football.

“Where the club is at the centre of the community, where what happens with the team can dictate a mood across the city.

“Right now that mood is buoyant. Things are looking good again.

“Newcastle has not had a manager of the level of Rafa for some time.

“Everyone seems to be on the same page. It has to stay that way.”

The Magpies started the season off with back-to-back defeats but have lost just one match in all competitions since mid-August.

And Shearer believes Newcastle appear destined for promotion.

“Newcastle certainly look to be on their way having opened up a five-point gap at the top of the Championship now,” he added.

“After so many years of chaos and disillusionment, the feel-good factor is most definitely back.

“You can sense it in the city and you can most definitely feel it in the ground.

“I went to the Cardiff match at St James’ Park before the international break and, while it was not a great game, it was another win and a wonderful atmosphere.

“The Championship is not the place the club wants to be but sometimes it can have a positive effect to take a step back, build a bit of momentum, and go again.

“Better that than constantly trying to avoid the relegation trap door. That breeds a mood of disillusionment season in, season out.

“At Newcastle there is hope again, and it is a while since we have been able to say that.”

Dwight Gayle scored twice at Elland Road to take his season’s tally to 13 goals in 13 league games.

Newcastle paid Crystal Palace £10million for Gayle over the summer, and Shearer insists that was “shrewd business”.

He continued: “Rafa has done some very shrewd business in the transfer market this summer, making the club a healthy profit in the meantime.

“There has been no better buy than Dwight Gayle at £10m from Crystal Palace.

“That move bought a guaranteed 20-25 goals in this league for me.

“He has scored nine in his last six games now and looks unstoppable at this level.

“Both of those he scored [at Elland Road] showed a great striker’s instinct.

“Most would have given up when they saw Jack Colback’s long ball floating seemingly harmlessly into Robert Green’s hands.

“He sensed the goalkeeper might just been struggling with it, there might just be a scrap to feed off, and there he was.

“His second was the culmination of a good move that unpicked the Leeds defence but he did well to just hold himself onside before connecting with the final ball.”