Alan Shearer has joked he is not as 'stupid' as Gary Lineker after being asked whether he would present in his underpants if Newcastle United pull off an unlikely Premier League triumph. The Match of the Day host famously presented the highlights show in his briefs following Leicester City's fairytale success in the 2015-16 season.
Newcastle temporarily moved into second position after earning a convincing Boxing Day victory at Leicester City. Manchester City reclaimed the position with a 3-1 win at Leeds United on Wednesday night, and league leaders Arsenal hold a seven-point lead and a game in hand over the Magpies.
However, a sensational run of eight victories in their last nine Premier League matches from Eddie Howe's side has led to talk of a title challenge. Brendan Rodgers has backed Newcastle to be in the mix come the end of the season, provided the Magpies strengthen again in the January transfer window.
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Shearer has previously urged caution when it comes to making predictions about his former side, with Howe's side firmly locked in a relegation battle at this stage of the season last year. However, the Magpies' all-time record goalscorer admits their ambitions 'may have to change' following a stunning start to the campaign.
When asked if Newcastle can replicate Leicester's title triumph, Shearer told Amazon Prime Video Sport: “If you had asked me two months ago I would have said no (whether Newcastle can win the league). But the more I see of Newcastle, the more impressed I am with them.
“The teams in and around them starting again in Europe will help them because they won't be playing every midweek. They look so fit.
"I thought I didn't want the break to come along because it was going that well for them. But their performance against Leicester was exactly what they wanted, exactly where they left off.
“And they can carry that on, so their ambitions may have to change. They won't admit that. I'm a little bit reluctant to say it. I don't want to get carried away but it has to be within their sights."
Newcastle have only lost once so far this season in controversial circumstances at Liverpool in August, and will face Leicester again in less than a fortnight's time for a place in the Carabao Cup semi-final. Shearer believes upcoming opponents will now 'sit back' against the Magpies as a result of this form, which could make the remainder of the campaign a 'little bit more difficult'.
The pundit added: "What will happen in the not too distant future is teams will look at Newcastle and understand how good they are and how fit they are. Newcastle might have to face a different problem in the back half of the season where teams are realising and saying ‘you know what, we're not going to attack you. We’re going to sit back and see how good you are and see if you can break us down'.
“Then it might prove to be a little bit more difficult for them. At the minute, teams are going up against them and realising there’re a very, very good team, very fit and can go the distance.”
And when asked if he would emulate Gary Lineker and appear on TV in his underwear should Newcastle pull off an incredible title win, Shearer quipped: “I’m not as stupid as he (Lineker) was, football is a crazy game!”
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