ALAN SHEARER believes Laurent Robert could hold the key to the Magpies skipper reaching Jackie Milburn's 200 goal target - if Graeme Souness keeps on picking the Frenchman.

The Newcastle skipper has backed Robert to stay in the starting XI so long as he performs like he did against Heerenveen in the UEFA Cup on Thursday, and Shearer can reap the benefits of the left-sided midfielder's creativity.

The former France international whipped in a superb cross for the tenth minute opener against the Dutch side that saw Newcastle on their way to a 2-1 win and a clash with Greek side Olympiakos in the last 16.

He also helped out in his own third to assist Aaron Hughes, and Shearer has joined Souness in calling on the enigmatic star to show that same work ethic week in week out.

The skipper said: "He gives us width and when he plays as he did against Heerenveen and he was up and down all night whipping balls in and working very hard. He'll play all the time when he does that.

"It was a great ball in for the first goal against Heerenveen - that's almost impossible to defend."

With no natural wide man on the right the service from the flanks is almost non existent without him, and Shearer's bid to score the 12 goals he needs to match Milburn's feat before he hangs up his boots in May could hinge on Robert.

"He provides great service not only for me when he plays like that," said Shearer whose free kick goal on Thursday made it 15 for the season. "You can see what a threat he is when he's whipping balls in.

"If he can do that seven, eight, nine times in a game then we'll score more goals.

"You never know (about reaching Milburn's record). I'll keep trying."

Newcastle go looking for their fourth consecutive win tomorrow at home to Bolton and according to the skipper confidence in the camp is high.

And the importance of the win in Holland - where a section of fans vented their anger on the manager and chairman before Newcastle's turnaround - was not lost on Shearer.

Shearer said: "It doesn't surprise (how Souness has coped with the last week). He knows we are in a results business and he's had three great results in the last three games.

"He'll be drilling it into us know that he wants four from four and that's what we have to deliver.

"We know in football that one result can turn things round. We got a decent result out in Heerenveen - probably didn't get the credit we deserved for it - but winning breeds confidence.

"We've won three on the spin now and confidence is high in the camp now and so it should be.

"We know we'll score goals and if we cut silly mistakes out all over the park then we'll have the chance of being successful.

"We were aware we had four very big games coming up, we've passed the test in three of them but without being disrespectful to Heerenveen I think a bigger test awaits us on Sunday against Bolton."

The Trotters have been warm weather training in Tenerife this week prior to tomorrow's game, and Shearer is hoping their sojourn doesn't have the same effect that Newcastle's break in Dubai.

He said: "They've been in Tenerife all week preparing for Sunday and it will be a tougher game than against Heerenveen.

"It (Dubai trip) didn't do us any harm. I hope Bolton's trip doesn't have the same effect because we've had three wins on the spin.

"They'll make it tough for us. They're a big physical side and Sam Allardyce's sides are always fired up for every game they play in.

"We're going well in the cup competitions but we just have to put them to bed now for a little while and start and climbing the league."

* Newcastle play Olympiakos in Athens on Thursday March 10, with the return leg six days later at St James' Park on Wednesday March 16.

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