Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer fears for his old club.

Shearer wrote for The Sun: "Rafa was criticised recently for saying Newcastle needed a “miracle" to stay up.

"But it is very difficult to believe what managers say at this time of year because they are trying to send out a message.

"Rafa was trying to tell people how it is and at the same time send a message to the owner that he desperately needs players in.

"But anyway, his comments are not too different to what I said at the start of the season — that Newcastle would be in a relegation battle.

"And that is a pretty sad indictment of where Newcastle are considering where they have been.

"If Mike Ashley is still the owner in May, then Rafa will be off. He is not coming back. Why would he?

"He, like all fans, desperately wants a takeover to happen so he can at least try and achieve something at Newcastle.

"The sooner it is sold, the better it will be for the whole football club."