Alan Shearer now names 'unbelievable' player who typifies Newcastle United after standout performance

Newcastle United were excellent to a man at St James' Park on Sunday as they battered Manchester United 4-1 to jump into fourth place in the Premier League.

Jason Tindall was tasked with picking the team and leading them in the game as manager Eddie Howe watched on from his hospital bed, but as Tindall told reporters after the game, the team pretty much picked itself as they went out onto the field unchanged for the fourth Premier League game in a row, fifth in all competitions, and picked up their fifth consecutive win.

It gives Tindall or Howe something to think about ahead of Wednesday's game against Crystal Palace, however, as Anthony Gordon is fully fit now, so does he come back into the side by default, or do they stick with Harvey Barnes, who has been a more than adequate substitution?

After his performance yesterday, it would be very hard to make a case for dropping Barnes back to the bench, and that's something that even Anthony Gordon has to be able to see.

Alan Shearer says Newcastle are looking 'very healthy' right now

Speaking after the match on The Rest Is Football podcast, via stop-motion animation, Alan Shearer said that Harvey Barnes sums up Newcastle United right now.

"There were plenty of good performances, but the standout, without doubt, was Harvey Barnes.

"That sort of sum up, or he does, Newcastle at the minute in terms of, he couldn't get in whether it was injury or whether it was form when Anthony Gordon was playing, Anthony Gordon goes out and he comes in, he scores, he does really well. He said after the game, I listened to his interview, he's really enjoying his football, he's in a good place as we speak, so long may that continue.

"They've got options all over the park, Newcastle. It's looking very healthy."

Eddie Howe is close to getting his wish

Harvey Barnes was getting all of the plaudits after the game with Bruno Guimaraes hailing him as 'unbelievable' in his interview with Sky Sports.

Eddie Howe has always said he wants two players fighting over every position, and he certainly has that now for left wing with two top, top players vying for one place.

Hopefully, by the time next season gets underway, Howe will be much closer to having two players for every position and we can really push on to upset the established order more than we already have.