QPR vs Newcastle: Alan Shearer statue symbolises the return of Tyneside's feel-good factor under Rafa Benitez

The unveiling of a bronze statue paying tribute to the former Newcastle striker and manager coincides with a run of five straight victories and eyes firmly on promotion to the Premier League

Alan Shearer stands alongside Freddy Shepherd and the new bronze statue of him outside St James' Park (PA)

The first chord of Dire Straits’ Going Home (the soundtrack to Local Hero) struck and Alan Shearer and the Mayor of Newcastle began wrestling with a purple sheet.

The applause had already started, up Barrack Road, parallel to the Milburn Stand at St James’ Park, hundreds of fans craning necks and pointing mobile phones, videoing and clicking. It cranked up as a bronze statue, around twice the size of the former Newcastle player and (briefly) manager was unveiled, in the typical celebration pose that he held 206 times in a black and white shirt.

The crowd fell silent as Shearer stood in front of the bronze statue that has been placed in his honour.

“Thank you,” he said. “I have so many people to thank. Never did I think I would be stood here with a statue behind me.”

It is just over 20 years since he climbed up a makeshift gantry in the Leazes End car park, 150 metres from where he was on Monday, and held a microphone to address a crowd of more than 10,000.

Shearer talks with his former manager Kevin Keegan (Getty) (PA)

“I’m one of yous,” he had said back then. He had a black and white shirt on, and the number nine, and he ran up stairs and orchestrated the crowd with his hands. That was the wedding. Yesterday was the anniversary, 20 years down the line, no silverware, but a bronze effigy to remind any who may forget what he gave to the cause.

“It’s been an incredible journey from 1996,” he added. “Thank you all for being here. I fulfilled every dream playing for this football club, my football club and I shared it with every single player, member of staff and every single fan who came to the game. When I come down this road and to see this, it’s an incredible feeling.”

The statue was organised and funded by the former Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd, who called Shearer the “greatest player Newcastle United have ever had.”

Kevin Keegan was there too (along with his old number two Terry McDermott), the man who transformed a football club and broke the world transfer record to beat off Manchester United to sign Shearer.

Rafa Benitez has brought the feel-good factor back to Newcastle (Getty)

It is always emotional when Keegan, the man who so inspired a city, returns to his adopted home. He will never be forgotten, even if the statue for him that his time merits without question has yet to be sanctioned.

Once more he posed for pictures, once more with the children of men who will never forget.

Four miles away, at the club’s Benton training ground, it was quiet and calm, the media spotlight was on the club’s past, rather than the present, but Rafa Benitez has touched the pulse of Tyneside’s football club and its support.

There have been five successive victories and Newcastle head to Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday night second in the Championship. Privately and publicly he is urging calm but the smile is back, both on the Spaniard’s face and on the support of the club. His name was bellowed out at the iPro Stadium by the visiting fans on Saturday evening, following that fifth win. “I am 100 per cent enjoying the euphoria,” he said. “After every training session and every win I am really pleased and happy. The only thing is to tell the players every day and in every session, and tell the fans through press conferences, that we have to keep going.”

Rafa Benitez has guided Newcastle to five straight victories this season (Getty)

The manager’s standing with that support has not been seen since Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson, who, like Shearer, has a statue outside of the stadium, were in his position. Benitez has immersed himself in the region and he spoke of the significance of achievement and tapping into the heartbeat of a city.

"You want to do well and be remembered as an important figure in the history of the club,” he said.

"In this case, it is very simple, to get promoted. If we are promoted, everybody will say ‘fantastic’ and after, to achieve something more.

"It doesn't matter the team that you coach, you want to do these things. When you are competitive and have a winning mentality, you want to win, but, because I have been in so many clubs now, when you have the feeling, or something back from the fans, you want to do even more.

"That is the situation I had in Liverpool and I have it here. I would like to do really well because it is my nature, but also because the fans are so good.

“I want to give them something back."

It was a day for legends in Tyneside on Monday. Past, present and perhaps future.