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Alan Shearer has admitted he was stunned by the timing of Eddie Howe’s resignation as Newcastle United manager.

Newcastle are believed to have lined up Al-Ahli head coach Matthias Jaissle as Howe’s replacement. The Saudi Pro League side, who are back-to-back AFC Champions League Elite winners, are majority-owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which also owns the Magpies.

Howe spent almost five years in charge of Newcastle, guiding the club into the Champions League and ending their 70-year wait for major silverware, although sustained progress over several seasons proved difficult to maintain.

Former Newcastle and England captain Shearer said Howe’s decision to step down came as a real surprise to him, while also paying tribute to the departing manager after his five-year spell in charge.

“I’m very, very surprised,” Shearer told Betfair. “I guess it’s strange timing with three weeks to go until the new season kicks off.

“I don’t know what’s gone on, whether it was the end of last season, whether it was the summer, whether he feels they can’t continue to sell his best players. I’m led to believe it was Eddie’s decision to leave.”

Under Howe, Newcastle reached the Carabao Cup final in 2022-23 and again in 2024-25, when they beat eventual Premier League champions Liverpool at Wembley.

That triumph was the Tyneside club’s first trophy since lifting the FA Cup under Doug Livingstone in 1954-55.

“It’s been an incredible ride,” said Shearer. “I think the job that he did was unbelievable from where he took us when he came, there was a real threat of relegation. He steadied the ship. He then got us climbing the league.

“He then brought in some wonderful players. He then took us to a final; we got beaten in that final, but then took us back again and gave us the day that we’ve so craved.

“I’ve been to Wembley as a player and lost. I’ve been to Wembley as a fan and lost. But I’ve also had the pleasure of going to Wembley and winning thanks to Eddie. Whatever happens now, the Geordies will always be grateful for what he gave us that day.”

Shearer, now a well-known pundit with BBC Sport, also reflected the frustration among Newcastle supporters over the sale of key players, with Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon following Alexander Isak. He feels captain Bruno Guimaraes could soon follow them out as well.

If that happens, the 2026-27 season looks set to be a difficult one for a side that still do not have Lionel Messi selling the pies and Cristiano Ronaldo cleaning their boots.

Jaissle has a strong reputation as a young coach, but the 38-year-old’s background in the Red Bull system and with Al-Ahli will offer only limited preparation for what awaits him at St James’ Park in the coming months.

“There’s no doubt this season’s going to be a tough one for Newcastle,” said the former Magpies striker. “You can’t keep selling your best players in the hope that you’re going to get to where you want to get to.”