Ameobi to the Rescue

By Nick Raynor
July 19 2006

Shola Ameobi has staked his claim for a regular place in the Newcastle, stating he is the answer to the striker shortage.

With Shearer retired and Owen expected to be out for most of the season, Ameobi is the only recognised striker, and is not deemed good enough by many fans, to start upfront for a team who hope to be playing in Europe.

 

In the immediate future, Newcastle are looking to Shola Ameobi and Albert Luque to score the goals in the second leg against Lillestrom in the Intertoto cup.

 

After shaking off a hip injury, Ameobi believes he can do the job for Newcastle.

 

Ameobi said:

 

"It has been a long summer,

 

"I missed the first couple of weeks of pre-season due to my hip situation. But I am training now, I have been training this week and I feel good.

 

"I am looking forward to the game and hopefully I can play some part to help us get through,

 

"I have always relished a challenge,

 

"It has been a challenge since I joined Newcastle and with the likes of Michael out this season and the lack of strikers there is a bit of pressure, but you have to rise to the occasion.

 

"Playing for Newcastle you have to perform week in and week out and that has always been the case and is the case for me this season."

 

And his manager, Glenn Roeder, has faith in the striker aswell.

 

Roeder said:

 

"As far as I'm concerned, Shola Ameobi is an established player at Newcastle United and he did fantastically well for me last season.

 

"He scored a goal every other game, and if he can keep that up throughout the season and we find another striker that tops him, our strikers will have scored plenty of goals by the end of the campaign."