Stoke City manager Tony Pulis believes the appointment of Alan Shearer as Newcastle boss will bring the people of Newcastle together but will not affect Stoke who are in a relegation battle with the Magpies.

Stoke hosts Newcastle next weekend in a vital clash but Pulis believes Shearer being in charge will have no bearing on the result.

"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," said Pulis.

"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."