Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has put rivalry aside to praise Sunderland icon Kevin Phillips. The Magpies front man was discussing the top ten breakthrough stars in the Premier League.

Phillips won the Golden Shoe on his first season in the Premier League with the Black Cats after helping steer the Wearsiders back into the top flight. Signed for a reported fee of £650,000 from Watford in 1997, Phillips scored 30 goals in his debut season in the Premier League and remains the only Englishman to have won the award to date.

The Black Cats legend struck up a brilliant partnership with Niall Quinn as Sunderland finished in seventh place, narrowly missing out on a UEFA Cup finish for two consecutive seasons. Despite being the Premier League record goal scorer, not even Shearer could replicate the feat oh Phillips in winning a Golden Shoe.

READ MORE: Sunderland's lack of cutting edge proves costly at Plymouth and could jeopardise play-off chances

READ MORE: Tony Mowbray sets likely return date for Mason Burstow after he misses defeat at Plymouth

Along with Gary Lineker and Micha Richards, the Newcastle legend ranked Phillips in one his top ten breakthrough talents. Shearer told Match of the Day: Top 10: "He had that brilliant partnership with Quinn didn't he. Big man, little man and it worked perfectly for him.

"I don't know, I think it was Watford they got him from Kevin Phillips. He was only 20 miles down the road and Newcastle fans hated him. But, they hated him for a reason and it was because he was a brilliant goal scorer."