Ameobi to be Shearers long term replacement

By Karl Wilkinson
December 15 2003

Sir Bobby Robson has insisted Shola Ameobi can save Newcastle a fortune by proving himself a worthy long-term successor to Alan Shearer.

Bobby Robson thinks Ameobi can fill Shearer's boots

Sir Bobby Robson has insisted Shola Ameobi can save Newcastle a fortune by proving himself a worthy long-term successor to Alan Shearer.

Robson has been dismayed by recent fans' criticism of 22-year-old Ameobi, and is ready to offer the England Under-21 international a new contract.

And the Magpies manager even believes Ameobi could prove good enough to fill Shearer's shoes when the great man retires at the end of next season.

Robson said: "Shola could save us a fortune. He will think he can be the man to eventually replace Alan, and we're trying to give him the chance to show us he can do that.

"The boy is a very good player. Last year, he went to Barcelona and Leverkusen and looked superb. He went to West Ham and looked superb.”

"He can hit that high standard, and it's not long ago that the crowd were with him and he was being applauded.”

"When Shearer and Craig Bellamy were playing together, it was a bit frustrating that we knew we had in Shola a fine player but couldn't get him in the team.”

"Now that he is in the team, people want him out! But I want to stick with the boy and give him some confidence.”

"By leaving him out of the side, do you knock him back another season?”

"OK, he didn't play well in our second game against FC Basel and in the game against Liverpool last week, but he'd done well in Basel, scoring our winner, and he also got a goal against Manchester City.”

Robson added: "He's a young player, he's a Newcastle boy and he has come from the Academy, so he's a wonderful example and a great encouragement to local lads.”

"My feeling is that we should stick with him in the team and, if he's having a difficult time, do something about it during the match.”

"If his poor run goes on and on and on, that's a different story. But hang on a second, it's only been two matches."