Alan Shearer England celebrates with Paul Gascoigne
Alan Shearer England celebrates with Paul Gascoigne
Paul Gascoigne has revealed how Graeme Souness begged him for advice as he made one last bid to win over the Newcastle United fans.
However, England and United legend Gazza knew the game was already up for Souness after he opted to begin experimenting at the club by resting Alan Shearer of all people. Indeed, Shearer was left out by ex-Liverpool boss Souness for an away trip at Fulham and the move was the beginning of the end for the former Scotland star.
Souness then made the mistake of trying to rotate Shearer for European games with the ex-England skipper chasing the club's all-time record goalscorer tag.
In an interview with cardplayer.com Gascoigne said: "I remember when Graeme Souness was manager. I’m in my apartment in Jesmond, and I think it was Thursday, or Friday night it was, or something like that.
"My phone rings and it was Graeme Souness. He said, ‘Gazza, where are you?’ I was just up the road from the restaurant he was at with his wife. He wanted me to come and see him as he wanted a word with me.
"I felt sorry for him. I went to the restaurant and I saw him sitting there and I sat next to him. I asked him what he wanted. He asked me how to win the fans over.
"I think it was because he dropped Alan Shearer. You don’t do that. Ruud Gullit did that as well. You can’t do that to a legend. That would have hurt Shearer.
"You don’t do that to players of his status. He’s a guy who’s able to lead well. Absolute legend of the club."
When asked his views on Eddie Howe and his work at St James' Park, Gazza feels he is the right man for the job but will need financial backing of some sort despite the PSR pitfalls placed around the club.
The ex-Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur star said: "He’s a nice guy, Eddie, as well and he’s done well with that team he’s got and he was only a young man when he went there anyway.
"So it’s a case of giving him money to spend, because I’m sure he knows what he’s going to spend it on, different areas around the pitch where he needs the back up or improvement."