HEERENVEEN winger Ugur Yildirim might have won a recent competition to find the world's best free-kick taker. But in Alan Shearer Newcastle have their own set-piece specialist.

The United skipper provided yet more evidence of his enduring ability last night as the Magpies completely outclassed their Dutch opponents to set up a mouth-watering clash with Greek side Olympiakos in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup.

Shearer's scorching 25th-minute free-kick fired Newcastle into an unassailable aggregate lead after Heerenveen defender Michel Breuer had given the home side the perfect start by steering Laurent Robert's early cross into his own net.

Shearer was not even invited to Marbella as Yildirim assumed the status of the world's number one exponent of the dead ball art.

But, while the Dutch international beat the likes of former Middlesbrough striker Hamilton Ricard to claim the crown, he more than met his match at St James' Park.

Shearer's precision drive was like so many other set-pieces he has dispatched during his illustrious career.

While Yildirim might have a trophy for his exploits, the former England international's goal helped Newcastle move a significant step closer to the piece of major silverware he covets above all else.

Graeme Souness had warned that his side had to "fear the worst" in the build-up to last night's second leg.

But, by the final whistle, Heerenveen were left dreading what might happen every time an effervescent Newcastle poured forward.

Robert and Kieron Dyer were their chief tormentors, with the latter ripping a strangely dispirited set of opponents apart in the first half before being withdrawn at the interval.

Robert was equally effective and, while Souness continues to harbour doubts about his defensive capabilities, a midfield containing both Nicky Butt and Amdy Faye will always have room for his undoubted attacking flair.

Faye played alongside Butt for the first time last night and with Patrick Kluivert and Celestine Babayaro both suffering from illness, Souness paired Shola Ameobi with Shearer in attack and handed Aaron Hughes a rare start at left-back.

Kluivert's absence could have been a significant setback as playing against Dutch opposition seven days ago seemed to have sparked a revival which the former Ajax star carried into Sunday's FA Cup clash with Chelsea.

His fourth-minute goal in that game had proved conclusive, but his presence was hardly missed last night as Newcastle claimed an early advantage for the second time in a week.

Robert was again the instigator but, while Kluivert had profited from his pinpoint centre four days earlier, Dutch defender Breuer proved a willing fall-guy in his compatriot's absence.

Latching on to Dyer's pass on the halfway line, Robert embarked on a 50-yard surge forward.

While neither Ameobi nor Shearer were able to meet his driven delivery, Breuer duly turned the ball into his own net from inside the six-yard box.

The goal came minutes after the Magpies had almost gone behind - Klass Jan Huntelaar firing straight at Shay Given after turning Andy O'Brien on the edge of the penalty area - but the success heralded a spell of complete dominance from the home side.

With an ebullient Dyer pulling all the strings in a floating role behind the front two, the Magpies carved out a succession of first-half chances in an attacking display as good as anything Souness' side have produced this season.

The England international was guilty of ball-watching after Heerenveen goalkeeper Brian Vanderbussche had made a mess of dealing with Ameobi's 17th-minute strike, but he then enjoyed a ten-minute purple patch which effectively ended the tie as a contest.

His perfectly-weighted pass set up Robert for a searing drive that Vanderbussche grabbed at the second attempt, before a wonderfully mazy run culminated in another Ameobi drive, which the visiting goalkeeper turned over the crossbar to safety.

With Heerenveen's midfield three affording him far too much room, Dyer revelled in making the kind of trademark bursts forward that used to be his forte.

One such surge was abruptly halted by Said Bakkati in the 25th minute but, rather than ending any danger, the Dutch full-back merely added to his side's problems.

Receiving Robert's touch inside, Shearer did not even have to break stride before lashing a raking 20-yard drive into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

United could afford to be complacent with a three-goal aggregate lead but, with Dyer and Robert galloping forward at every opportunity, the home side went close to pulling even further ahead before the interval.

Ameobi headed Robert's left-wing cross on to the outside of the post, and Butt brought another good save from Vanderbussche from distance.

Newcastle completely overwhelmed a Heerenveen side who looked a pale imitation of the lively outfit who had claimed a deserved lead on home soil.

Jermaine Jenas replaced Dyer at half-time, but the switch made no difference to the overall pattern of United dominance.

Fellow substitute James Milner went close with a crisp low drive while, at the other end, Titus Bramble continued his recent rehabilitation with a bone-crunching challenge that knocked all semblance of a fight out of the previously lively Huntelaar.

The intensity inevitably dropped as full-time approached but, with ten minutes left, Ameobi handed Heerenveen a consolation they barely deserved.

The striker needlessly handled Yildirim's right-wing corner and, after Serbian referee Dejan Delevic finally pointed to the spot, Arnold Bruggink smashed the resultant penalty beyond Given.

The goal ensured Newcastle would not keep an almost unprecedented two consecutive clean sheets but, more importantly, the final whistle ensured the club will enter March still in two major cup competitions for the very first time.

Newcastle United 2 Heerenveen 1.

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