Ameobi relieved to be back on scoresheet

Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi put his own discomfort to one side to stake his claim as Alan Shearer’s long-term replacement.

The 23-year-old hitman, who will have an operation to repair a hip injury at the end of the season, was paired with Dutchman Patrick Kluivert at Craven Cottage in the absence of the rested Shearer last night, and got his reward with his first Barclays Premiership goal since New Year’s Day.

Ameobi headed home a 75th-minute James Milner corner to make it 3-0 after Darren Ambrose and Kluivert had put the Magpies on the road to their first away win in the league since November, and even Tomasz Radzinski’s late consolation strike could not ruin his evening.

It took the England U21 international, who has found it hard to win over his critics this season, to seven goals for the campaign, three behind his best ever haul of 10 last time around.

“It’s been a tough old season in terms of goals and it was nice to get one, especially a headed goal,” said Ameobi. “I had not had a Premiership goal since January – it has been a long time. As a striker I need goals and it was nice to get one.

“The balls into the area were fantastic. We have not scored many from set-pieces this season and for my confidence, it was fantastic.”

Ameobi is desperate for a chance to prove that, despite manager Graeme Souness’s summer search for top-class strikers with Kluivert and Craig Bellamy seemingly certain to leave Tyneside, he can take over Shearer’s mantle on his retirement.

His relaxed style sometimes infuriates fans, but he is confident in his own ability and determined to prove his worth once his injury problem has been addressed.

“It has been tough, especially with this injury,” he said. “I think I am going in for the operation the day after the season ends so I can get it right for the start of next term.”

Shearer is expected to return for Saturday’s trip to Champions League-chasing Everton, where the Magpies will look to secure the point they need to ensure this season is not their worst ever in the Premiership.

That would mean French defender Jean-Alain Boumsong would have to return the captain’s armband after being asked to lead the side out at Fulham.

“To captain a club as big as Newcastle United is a massive honour,” said the £8m (€11.8m) signing.

“It is something nobody can ever take away from me and it made me so proud.

“When the manager told me I was going to be skipper, I was a little surprised but delighted, even though when Alan Shearer went off at Old Trafford last week he threw the armband to me.

“I was vice-captain at Auxerre but was only skipper on the odd occasion.”

Having led the club to its first win in eight attempts in the league, Boumsong may have felt he should hang on to the armband a little longer, although he joked: “Perhaps it would be best if I was not captain again and I could always say I had a 100% winning record whenever I have worn the armband for Newcastle United.”

Titus Bramble made a surprise return from a groin injury at Craven Cottage to partner Boumsong and the pair face the task of having to keep former Magpie Duncan Ferguson quiet at the weekend, but it is a challenge the former Rangers player is relishing.

“We have another tough game against Everton and Duncan Ferguson on Saturday and whether I am captain or not is not really important,” he said.