Robson facing mission impossible as Shearer prepares to hang up his boots

BOBBY ROBSON has started to consider the biggest problem he may face in the remainder of his career.

At roughly 4.40pm on Saturday he gave the go-ahead to the fourth official at St James' Park to hold up the board to indicate he wanted to replace his number nine with his number 14.

With his side leading Leicester 3-0 and only 11 minutes remaining, Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer was withdrawn from the firing line as loan-signing Michael Bridges was handed a debut.