Shearer backs Keegan despite form

Saturday's 5-1 home thrashing by Manchester United was Keegan's fourth defeat from six matches since his shock reappointment last month.

"They'll give him as much time as he needs," Shearer said on BBC Radio Five Live. "He's signed a three-and-a-half-year deal and he said at the weekend he's here for that."

Keegan's reign has seen Newcastle ship 16 goals and score only three times, eroding the optimism that greeted his dramatic return.

Shearer, who has been linked with a role on Keegan's coaching staff but has yet to take up any offer, believes his fellow Toon legend will get plenty of time to turn the club's fortunes around.

"There's no reason at all why he won't see his deal out," he continued.

"Kevin will get more time than anyone else because of what he did on his first time around at Newcastle.

"Without doubt, he'll have the support of the crowd right the way through that."

Newcastle are in danger of being sucked into a relegation battle and Shearer accepts the players are bereft of confidence at the moment, but he insists they are too good to go down.

"Everything boils down to results and, at this moment in time, Newcastle aren't getting them," he said. "I know the run of results they've had suggest they're going to get involved in a scrap but I still feel that they're a much better team than those that are around them at the bottom."