Shearer worried by Newcastles French influx

17 August 2013 09:46

Former Newcastle United great Alan Shearer has criticised the club's policy of signing French players and says it could create an unhealthy atmosphere within the squad.

Newcastle signed France international striker Loic Remy from Queens Park Rangers on a season-long loan earlier this week, taking the number of French players at manager Alan Pardew's disposal to 11.

Shearer, who scored 206 goals in 404 games for Newcastle, fears the strategy will come back to haunt the club if the team starts to struggle on the pitch.

"I don't think it's a healthy thing to have too many French players in one dressing room," he told BBC Radio 5 Live late on Friday.

"If things start to go against you then little cliques appear. I know Arsenal had a lot of French players and went on to be successful, but I don't see Newcastle being that successful."

Newcastle start the new Premier League season away to Manchester City on Monday.

Source: AFP