Alan Shearer's former Blackburn and Newcastle boss Kenny Dalglish has long believed his protege would take up management eventually.

Neither could have envisaged it would be this season, but with struggling Newcastle in freefall, Dalglish says Shearer was the only man for the job.

He said: "Alan won't be afraid to make decisions, however tough. He has a good knowledge of football, he knows what he wants and he'll already have a good idea which players he feels can do well for him.

"This is his first job and it's a great job despite Newcastle's position because it is a club he's always wanted to be at. It was always destined that one day, he'd get that job.

"Everyone associates Alan with passion and commitment and when he talks, people listen. He has that effect. There will be a feel-good factor about the place for the first time in a long time because the reaction he's got has been unbelievable but not surprising because he's a hero up there.

"He's someone fans can relate to because he is one of them. And because he was such a great footballer, the players will hold him in great esteem.

"He commands respect because of his own deeds out on the pitch. I wish Alan all the luck in the world - and that's something he'll find he needs."