Shearer Has a Soft Spot for Sunderland… Sort Of — But Hopes Newcastle Smash Them Anyway!

The Tyne-Wear derby is officially back, and it’s already stirring up emotions on both sides of the River Tyne. For the first time in nine years, Newcastle United and Sunderland will face off in the Premier League, and while fans are dusting off old chants and clearing their calendars, club legend Alan Shearer has thrown in a few surprising comments of his own.

Believe it or not, the Geordie icon has admitted he’s actually kind of happy to see Sunderland back in the top flight. Yes, that Sunderland. The team he’s famously roasted over the years. But before you start questioning his loyalty, Shearer made it clear that the only reason he’s pleased is because it spices up the season , and he still wants Newcastle to absolutely run riot when the two meet.

“I know I’ve joked about Sunderland before,” Shearer said in an interview with Betfair, “but honestly, it’s more exciting when you’ve got the derby to look forward to. The fans are up for it, the atmosphere is electric, and as a player, you get away with doing things you wouldn’t in a normal match.” Translation: he’s here for the drama, not the hugs and handshakes.

Newcastle fans haven’t had a proper Premier League Tyne-Wear clash to get hyped about since 2016, and while the FA Cup gave them a little taste 18 months ago ,which Newcastle won 3-0, by the way , nothing beats the full-blown chaos of a league encounter. This rivalry is back, and it’s personal.

Sunderland’s return to the big time is impressive, no doubt. After four long years in League One and a rollercoaster ride through the play-offs, they’ve clawed their way back up. But Shearer’s not convinced they’ll stick around for long. “They did well to get promoted,” he said. “But staying up? That’s a whole different game. You need depth, experience, and honestly, a bit of magic , and I don’t see enough of that in their squad right now.”

He didn’t stop there. Shearer even cheekily hinted that Sunderland’s play-off final win over Sheffield United was more about grit than glory. “They got battered for large parts of that game,” he said. “They defended well, took their chances… but the gap between that and Premier League survival is massive. Unless they bring in serious reinforcements, it’s going to be a long season for them.”

Still, even with that tough love, Shearer knows what these matches mean to the region. “They’re just fun,” he said. “As a fan now, I’m buzzing they’re back , not because I want them to succeed, but because I want Newcastle to beat them. Twice. Badly.”

Meanwhile, on the other side of the derby line, Sunderland manager Régis Le Bris is living the dream. The Frenchman, who only took the reins last season, managed to guide an inconsistent squad to glory. “It was impossible to predict,” he admitted. “But the players worked hard, stayed united, and we earned it. Now the real challenge begins.”

So now the countdown begins. The Premier League fixture list drops on June 18, and fans from both camps will be circling those derby dates in red. The tension’s rising, the banter’s flowing, and thanks to Alan Shearer, the fire’s already lit.

One thing’s for sure , the North East just got a whole lot noisier. And Shearer wouldn’t have it any other way.