Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer was a key factor in their successful swoop for Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson.

The 28-year-old Bournemouth striker, who signed a four-year deal on Monday to complete a move which is understood to have cost Newcastle in the region of £20million, consulted the man who scored 206 goals for the club before putting pen to paper.

Shearer first contacted the then Cherries marksman as he recovered from a serious knee injury and with the pair having stayed in touch since, it was to the former England captain whom Wilson turned when the Tyneside club came calling.

Wilson told NUFC TV: "It was really encouraging to hear it from such a legend. It was out of the blue, the text message, as well, so I was quite surprised, but I was so appreciative.

"We kept in touch - Shearer messaged me when I got a call-up for England and we've also been in touch about me coming here.

"I asked a few questions - what's it like around the town and things like that - and he had nothing but praise for the football club and for the place.

"It was already in my mind I was coming here, but that just nailed it on, it was concrete."