'They've got a chance': Alan Shearer is daring to dream after being asked about Newcastle Untied's title hopes

It's crazy how just a couple of months ago we were ready to throw in the towel on Newcastle United's season as we were sitting 12th in the Premier League with a Carabao Cup semi-final against in-form Arsenal on the horizon.

How times have changed. Newcastle now sit fourth in the Premier League with a 2-0 advantage heading into the home leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.

The Magpies are just nine points off Liverpool in top spot, five points off Arsenal in second and three points away from Nottingham Forest in third. Of those three sides, Nottingham Forest look to be the most in-form right now meaning the gap to the top two could soon shrink.

There's still a long, long way to go in this season so we're trying not to get carried away, but pundits everywhere are starting to see us as title contenders and even our very own Alan Shearer can't deny that the Magpies are in a title race.

Alan Shearer gives the green light to get carried away

When Dave Chapman asked the Newcastle United legend on Match of the Day last night if the gap to the top was too big, Shearer, almost reluctantly, admitted that it was not.

"Errrrm, no it's not. I mean, the form they're in, the way they're looking defensively solid, clean sheets, midfield, there's no doubt they've got the system working and with him up front (Alexander Isak) they've got a chance."

That's Alan Shearer giving Geordies permission to get carried away so LET'S GET CARRIED AWAY!

We need to calm down but we just can't

Again, we are all too aware of how much football there is left to play this season and how Newcastle have a tendency to get close to glory and bottle it, but we can have our fun while things are going well.

Let's be honest, here, barring any unfortunate injuries, right now, there's nothing to suggest Newcastle can't go all the way.

If we beat Bournemouth on Saturday that will be 10 straight wins. That will be the first time ever that Newcastle United have done that. Alexander Isak is on a run of scoring in eight consecutive games. Everything is coming up Newcastle right now and other teams are starting to get very worried.

Bournemouth are a bogey team; there's no getting away from that, but as we keep saying, nothing lasts forever. We can end that curse like we ended the 119-year-old Wolves double curse last night. I keep trying to temper expectations and then getting myself all excited again.