Will Shola Ameobi ever silence his doubters?

Shola Ameobi is now 27 years old – he is the longest serving player at St James, next to Steve Harper and Shay Given. However, his undoubted potential has never been realised. I remember Ameobi bursting onto the scene as a 19 year old, making his home debut v Chelsea as a sub. That day he ended up going toe to toe with a certain Dennis Wise. He looked a lad who would take no prisoners and yet since then he has too often flattered to deceive.

His record for Newcastle is not great – just shy of 50 goals in around 240 games. However, he is the 2nd all time top scorer behind a certain Alan Shearer. Superb performances away to Barcelona and Leverkusen in the CL (during 2001/2002), have shown that he has the ability to mix it with the best. But something has always not been quite right – whether it’s a lack of belief on his own part or laziness. His career at Newcastle has looked over more than a couple of times – indeed he was reported to have turned down moves to Stoke, West Brom and Ipswich during the summer.

However, Joe Kinnear seems to have seen something in Ameobi and has likened him to a certain John Fashanu. Ameobi responded with a man of the match performance against Manchester City, giving Richard Dunne a torrid time and getting a goal into the bargain. He is back up the pecking order, and looks likely to lead the line in this weekend’s derby with Sunderland. He needs to become more consistent if he is to silence his doubters. He is way past being seen as ‘having potential’. He could have a massive role to play of Newcastle are to move back up the league. Question is – does he want it or believe in himself enough?

John Ferguson Burn