Alan Shearer Exclusive: Eddie Howe has my full backing | OneFootball

The noise around a derby is always a lot louder than after any other game. If you've been in football as long as I have, then you know that.

And the noise last weekend was terrible from a Newcastle point of view. But you also have to try, if you can - after the event or a day or two after - try and look at the bigger picture. And the bigger picture after Wednesday's win over Fulham in the EFL Cup was that Newcastle are now in a third semi-final in four years, which we could only have dreamt of 10 or 15 years ago, or 20 years ago. That's the big picture for me.

As much as it hurt last weekend, the big picture is we're in another semi-final, going along okay in the Champions League. The inconsistency in terms of Premier League form is what's been hurting Newcastle and conceding late goals have been part of the problem. I know we scored a late one the other night in the quarter-finals, but the league form is so up and down.

I mean, Eddie said it himself. He doesn't know what's going to come, what's going to happen on the pitch from his team. That makes it difficult for a manager and for the fans. That's when the noise is created.

Howe has done an amazing job at Newcastle

Eddie's been brilliant for Newcastle and done an amazing job. So, I try not to get involved in the emotion of it all. But then I also look at the big picture and think, well, after the event... hang on a minute. After Wednesday night, then you look at it and think we have been in three semi-finals in four years and that is a good achievement.

I know that all the big boys are left in the competition and we've got Man City in the semi-final. But Newcastle beat all of them last year to get to the final and win it, so they're going to have to do the same again. Which you have to do in every cup competition.

But the noise will start again tomorrow if Newcastle get beaten at home by Chelsea. I know they've got injuries, but that's what happens when you have success - everyone looks for you to keep on improving and get better and better. Newcastle have stalled, particularly in the league this season.

The standard of the league this year, or the picture of the league, has been really strange. And Newcastle have been a massive part of that in terms of doing what everyone else seems to be doing: get a result one week, lose one next week.

We went to Everton and scored four goals, so I thought: "Okay, our away form is back on track." And then I saw that at Sunderland last week. Everyone's doing it. Arsenal may be the exception. Man City have picked up now. Villa, without doubt, are on a great run. But the vast majority of the league is really inconsistent.

Wissa could be missing piece of Newcastle puzzle

That was a big moment for Wissa on Wednesday night - scoring on his first start for Newcastle. I guess it's been really frustrating for him because he's not been able to make an impact and not been involved in the first team. I know that's tough and probably even tougher when you're new to a football club.

Wissa gives the manager different options and that's the one position where they've really been struggling. He's had to play Anthony Gordon up there, when he hasn't played Nick Woltemade. And the three that were left out in midweek couldn't really complain because of their performance at Sunderland last weekend.

So Howe changed the front line. We'll have to see what he does on Saturday against Chelsea. I mean, whether he feels Wissa is strong enough to make a second start in three days. My guess would be he'll put Woltemade back in because of that.

I hope Wissa is the missing piece of the puzzle for Newcastle in terms of energy and pressing because Newcastle have missed that this season, particularly away from home. He could add to that, there's no doubt, with his pace and his know-how.

Wissa will bring something different to what Newcastle have had with Woltemade. That's not a criticism of Woltemade, just another player bringing his strengths to the team.