Former Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given believes Alan Shearer should have been bought in as Magpies manager much earlier.

Given, now at Manchester City, says the club would have been in a better position if Shearer was approached for the job much earlier when they knew Joe Kinnear would not be returning to the post due to ill-health.

"He should have been brought in earlier to try and get some results," Given told the Manchester Evening News.

"It would be a real tragedy if they got relegated but it is getting very close to the wire.

"The games are running out and the results are not going so well.

"Please God Alan can keep them up and they can start to invest more in the team and have a stronger squad."