Sir Bobby Robson has started to consider one of the biggest problems any manager could ever face - finding Alan Shearer's replacement.
At roughly 4:40pm on Saturday Robson's number nine was replaced with his number 14.
With his side leading Leicester 3-0 and only 11 minutes remaining, skipper Shearer was replaced by loan-signing Michael Bridges.
Shearer is almost certain to hang up his boots at the end of next season, and the hunt for a replacement is on.
Shola Ameobi enhanced his own reputation with the opening goal and a combative all-round performance at we weekend, but Shearer and Bellamy are favourites to start the next game.
Bridges has about four months to prove to his new boss that he has what it takes to earm a permanemt deal.
"At 3-0, I was thinking about next Wednesday and that I could rest Alan and take off Shola,'' said Robson. "I need to look at Michael Bridges and Craig.
"It was a good time to do it. We had a cushion - later on in the season, we might not have that sort of cushion to take a chance to have a look at Michael.
"It was important for me to see a little bit of him. Alan understands - well, I think he understands. He's all right."
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