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With his side leading Leicester 3-0 and only 11 minutes remaining, Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer was withdrawn from the firing line as loan-signing Michael Bridges was handed a debut.

Shearer does not often fail to make the full 90 minutes it had happened only once before this season and Robson's decision was an opportunity to give the 33-year a well-earned rest and to blood the latest addition to his striking pool in comfortable circumstances. However, United's talisman has less than 18 months left on his contract and seems certain to hang up his boots at the end of next season.

Shearer will be back in harness when United head for former club Blackburn on Wednesday when Robson will hope Craig Bellamy is ready to start alongside him for the first time since October 4. Shola Ameobi enhanced his own reputation in the manager's eyes with the opening goal and a combative all-round performance against the Foxes and Bridges will have about four months to prove to his new boss that he has what it takes to one day assume the mantle which matters most on Tyneside.

Shearer, who fired agonisingly wide from close range just before he was taken off, played a key role in his side's opener when he flicked on Shay Given's deep clearance and forced Andrew Impey into the error which allowed Ameobi to fire home left-footed with the help of a deflection off Gerry Taggart. He was the unfortunate villain again before the break when after Shearer had hurled himself at Olivier Bernard's inviting cross, he clattered the ball against his own body and saw it ricochet over the line.

United midfielder Jermaine Jenas wrapped up the points with 59 minutes gone with his first goal of the season and although substitute Les Ferdinand pulled one back against his former employers 10 minutes from time, there was no panic for the Magpies.

Newcastle were good enough and might have won more comfortably had Bridges and Bellamy not passed up a glorious opportunity late in the day.