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Sport
Ryan Dabbs

‘Early on, Shearer was quite rightly the main man, but being backup really grinded on me as the years wore on – I hated the role’: Newcastle United cult hero reveals annoyance at never being considered good enough for No.9 role at St. James' Park

Shola Ameobi Alan Shearer Newcastle United Newcastle Paul Barker EPL
NEWCASTLE, UNITED KINGDOM: Newcastle's Alan Shearer (R) celebrates with Shola Ameobi (L) and Laurent Robert (C) after scoring against SC Heerenveen to make it 2-0 during their UEFA Cup football match at St James' Park in Newcastle, 24 February 2005. AFP PHOTO Paul Barker (Photo credit should read PAUL BARKER/AFP via Getty Images).

Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer was still at the peak of his powers at the turn of the millennium, with the England striker hitting 95 goals across five seasons between 1999 and 2004.

By 2000, Shola Ameobi was breaking into the Newcastle first team as an 18-year-old, learning from the best. He started 12 consectuive games in the 2000/01 season as main strikers Alan Shearer and Carl Cort were both out injured, and looked a great prospect for the future at St. James' Park.

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