GRAEME Souness has decided a little amateur psychology will help him get the very best out of Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert.

The Newcastle manager is hoping the mere mention of international team-mate Ruud van Nistelrooy will be enough to get the 28-year-old back in the form that saw Barcelona and AC Milan pay a combined £17m for his services.

After seven starts without a goal, Kluivert provided a little touch of magic at Selhurst Park on Saturday that reminded his manager, and the fans, why he was rated as one of the world's best strikers not so long ago.

Craig Bellamy's cross was just a little behind the frontman but, a flick from his right instep later and the ball was nestling in the back of Gabor Kiraly's net.

The goal had his manager issuing the free signing with a challenge to prove that he, and not van Nistelrooy, is the striker to lead the line in Holland coach Marco van Basten's side.

The powers that be in Dutch football have decided the two best strikers the country has produced since van Basten cannot play together in the same side, and since Euro 2004 Kluivert has been left in the cold out of the Dutch squad - despite an impressive record of 40 goals in 79 internationals.

Strained is the adjective which seems to accompany descriptions of the relationship between Kluivert and van Nistelrooy - born on the same day 70 miles apart - and Souness is hoping the thought of ousting the Manchester United man from the international team will spur him on.

Souness said: "I am interested in the Patrick Kluivert who can prove people in Spain, and maybe in Holland, wrong, and that he still is the main man in Dutch football. That is a real challenge for him given the way van Nistelrooy is at Man United.

"In terms of raw ability, I would put him up there with anyone. It's also about good determination and professionalism - even at 28, he is in the same dressing room as a man he can learn from in that department."

That man of course was missing on Saturday giving Kluivert the chance to link up with Bellamy in attack.

For 78 minutes Kluivert was anonymous, but the trademark of any good striker is the ability to find the net no matter how badly you're playing.

Number seven for the Magpies in 13 starts and the link-up with Bellamy may provide the basis of Newcastle's attack for years to come.

The edge that Kluivert apparently needs is to prove a point - and his club manager believes he wants to prove a lot of people wrong.

"I think Patrick has got some points to prove to people," said Souness. "He should be in the national team for Holland.

"He should be one of the first names on the team sheet - he's not, so I would like to think he wants to prove those people wrong.

"It is a new career here for him in England. In terms of quality and ability, he's up there with anyone you could mention, but has he got that steeliness and determination to do what Alan Shearer has done at 34?

"I think it is about doing well for himself first and foremost and wherever that takes him, great.

"Scoring goals for us, he has got a new challenge here. As far as I know he is really happy at this football club, he enjoys his team-mates and is a dream to work with. I stand on the touchline in training and I marvel at some of the things he does."

The marvelling on Saturday was minimal for the first 78 minutes, but Newcastle's finishing was clinical.

A forgettable first half saw Bellamy go close after quarter of an hour following a superb ball through by Lee Bowyer, but it was goalkeeper Shay Given who ensured it was a goal-less opening 45 minutes.

Five minutes before the interval, Emmerson Boyce broke down the right and his ball into Andy Johnson was inch-perfect.

The striker met the ball superbly from eight yards but Given stood tall and reacted to push his effort over the bar.

The Magpies played the second-half like the home side with Ian Dowie's team more than happy to play on the break.

After Bellamy had wastefully shot straight at the keeper when put through by the returning Kieron Dyer on 70 minutes Newcastle took complete control.

With 12 minutes remaining Jermaine Jenas, impressive and authoritative in central midfield, picked up possession near the halfway line and slid the ball into the path of Bellamy's intelligent run down the right.

His cross was low and despite being just behind the on-rushing Kluivert, the striker expertly flicked it home.

Two free-kicks from Laurent Robert - one off the bar and one straight at Kiraly - were the precursor for the Magpies second in the 88th minute.

Robert picked up Olivier Bernard's header and broke straight upfield before releasing to Bellamy in the box.

His first touch took the ball away from the defender, his second sent it into the roof of the net.

The holes in the Palace midfield and defence remained wide and Jenas could have capped off a perfect day after a super run, but his curling effort was wide of the goal.

Following his mature condemnation of the Spanish bigots as he took on the role of England spokesman in Madrid, Jenas was handed the captain's armband in the absence of Shearer.

The job of leading the line was given to Kluivert. If Souness cannot persuade Shearer otherwise, it's a job he'll take on full-time next season.

Result: Crystal Palace 0 Newcastle United 2.

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