Shearer hails Kluivert capture

Magpies chief Sir Bobby Robson completed one of the most high-profile signings of the summer when securing the services of Kluivert this week.

Robson has three top class strikers on his books in the form of Kluivert, Shearer and Craig Bellamy, while Shola Ameobi will be desperate to break into the first team picture.

Shearer and Kluivert are likely to be charged with the task of leading the line, with Bellamy possibly asked to operate out wide, and the former England captain is looking forward to working with the former Barcelona man.

"Patrick Kluivert is a really big-name signing for us and he has a fantastic record as far as scoring goals is concerned," Shearer said. "Not only that, but he will come here next week with a lot of big club experience behind him with Ajax, AC Milan and Barcelona, as well as all his caps for Holland.

"All in all, this should be a very good signing for us.

"It's sometimes difficult when you have two main front-line strikers who are both looking for goals.

"But having said that, I feel that myself and Patrick should be able to form a good partnership if we are given the chance to play together.

"I have played alongside a lot of great players in my time and Patrick Kluivert is up there with the greats when you look at his goalscoring record.

"Certainly, without any shadow of doubt, the potential is there but I don't want to be disrespectful to the other strikers that we have at St James' Park by going on too much about what myself and Patrick Kluivert may or may not achieve together.

"We now have four very good experienced strikers in Patrick, Craig Bellamy, Shola Ameobi and myself, plus young Michael Chopra, and that's what is needed these days."