Shearer 's unveiling as manager today will be something of a coup for beleaguered owner Mike Ashley , but the former striker 's second coming at the club will be in marked contrast to the heady day in July 1996 when he joined Kevin Keegan 's side for £ 15m from Blackburn Rovers , viewed as the final piece in the jigsaw that would take Newcastle to their first league title since 1927 .