Shearer expects Newcastle to challenge for top four

I feel like last season's top three will be the same this time, although not necessarily in the same order. After that, there are going to be four or five teams challenging for fourth place.

I am pretty confident Newcastle will be one of them, although the dream is still for them to win a trophy. It's the same as every year, really, in that I'd love to see them go deep in a domestic cup... and finally win one.

Can they do both? Well, you would never say having no European football is a good thing but the one positive to Eddie Howe's side not being involved this time is that their workload is a lot less than when they were in the Champions League.

What cost Newcastle last season was their horrific injury list and they cannot afford for the same thing to happen again if they are going to do well, so fewer demands, in terms of playing once not twice a week, should help them.

Not having Nick Pope in goal was a massive miss when he was out for so many months so having him back fit, and hopefully staying fit, is another reason I am hopeful they will be in and around the top end of the table.

Read more from Shearer on the upcoming Premier League season