United’s all-time leading goalscorer bagged from the spot - his third career strike against Sunderland - to put his side 2-1 up and send the away end into raptures. Glenn Roeder’s men would go on to finish seventh - a feat Newcastle have rarely achieved since.
A 14-year reign of disillusionment under Mike Ashley suppressed the Magpies’ potential, with the club bouncing between the bottom half of the top flight and the Championship. Other than Alan Pardew’s outlier season in 2011/12 - when United finished fifth - the starting line-up has failed to live up to the standards set during Shearer’s stint at St James’ Park.
However, Toon supporters have occasionally been blessed with attacking talent to keep them entertained. ChronicleLive ranks the nine best strikers to represent Newcastle since Shearer hung up his boots.
