Stoke City boss Tony Pulis says Newcastle's appointment of Alan Shearer as new manager has transformed the relegation battle.

"I think it's a good move for Newcastle," he told The Sentinel. "Alan becoming manager will ignite and bring their support together.

"It's been a bit fragmented up there with people in London running the club. Now they have got a hero back in charge which will bring everybody together and that's important for them.

"Does it make any difference to us? No, it doesn't. Alan Shearer isn't going to be playing against us when we play them and Alan Shearer isn't going to be playing against us when we play West Brom on Saturday."