Alan Shearer has admitted he’s been surprised with one player who left Newcastle United back in 2019.

Newcastle United fans begrudgingly watched plenty of talented players leave during the Mike Ashley era.

The likes of Georginio Wijnaldum spring to mind, who spent one season on Tyneside before sealing a switch to Liverpool and the rest is history.

Times have certainly changed at St James’ Park after the arrival of PIF but one player who Magpies supporters probably weren’t too fussed to see the back of was Joselu. 

The Spaniard made the switch to the North East back in 2017, with Newcastle paying Stoke City £5 million to land the striker. 

After a disappointing two years at the club, he headed to Spanish outfit Alvaes for a £6 million fee and Newcastle fans would have been forgiven at the time for thinking that would be the last they heard of the striker. 

Yet, off the back of his Champions League semi-final heroics for Real Madrid, Alan Shearer has admitted on the latest episode of The Rest Is Football that he’s been surprised by Joselu.

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Shearer stunned by Joselu’s Real Madrid form

Joselu netted a brace against Bayern Munich to book Madrid’s place in the final of the Champions League just over a week ago.

The 34-year-old became an unlikely hero for the Spanish giants and is enjoying an impressive season at the Bernabeu, bagging 16 times in 47 games. 

It’s fair to say his form has caught Shearer by surprise, who said: “I must admit, I never saw that coming with Joselu when he was at Newcastle. Did anyone else? If anyone says yes, they’re lying.

“Him at Newcastle, him at Stoke. But bloody hell, you’ve got to give him some credit for going there and the goals that he’s scored. The way he turned that around for them, it’s incredible.”

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Joselu’s record at Newcastle

Not many Newcastle fans would have predicted Joselu to end up at Real Madrid after two poor seasons at St James’ Park.

The Spaniard netted just seven times in 52 appearances for the Magpies while managing two assists. 

In his second season at the club, he started just five times in the Premier League before sealing a summer switch back to Spain.