Former Newcastle United defender Steve Howey hopes Sol Campbell will stay at St James' Park.
Despite some wobbles last time out against Liverpool, Howey is calling for caution before anyone writes off the 36-year-old.
"Deciding the back four for the Manchester City game is a massive call for the new manager. It's a big, big decision," he told the Evening Chronicle.
"I know everyone will have their opinion but don't write off Sol. Any player can maybe not have the best of games but Sol's experience is a big thing in a game like this.
"Sol has probably never been the smallest of players but he's always been very, very quick. He's probably not quite as fast as he was but he brings that awareness. He puts himself in the right positions where he can read the game.
"When you're playing a team like Manchester City with their attack then I think you need to consider those players that have been there, seen it and done it.
"I used to play with a player at Manchester City - Richard Dunne - who is a similar build to Sol and probably people wrote him off. But believe me, when he got going he was like a freight train and no defender would want to play against him."
