LEAVING Alan Shearer on the bench is supposed to be the final thing you do as a Newcastle manager. But by dropping the club's talisman for his first game in charge, Graeme Souness has left no-one in any doubt as to where the power lies in his new regime.

The last two club managers to leave Shearer among the substitutes paid with their job. But, as he begins a new chapter on Tyneside, last night's 2-0 UEFA Cup win over Israeli minnows Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin served to strengthen Souness' hand, even if his side hardly fired on all cylinders.

There will be no sacred cows anymore and, with the new Newcastle boss having asserted his authority at the earliest opportunity, every Magpies player now knows they must prove their worth.

Patrick Kluivert did exactly that last night and, by weighing in with a well-taken brace, the Dutch international has already given Souness a selection headache ahead of Sunday's trip to Southampton.

But Nicky Butt blotted his copybook in spectacular fashion with a ridiculous sending off less than two minutes after coming on as a substitute and, while Souness might insist he is no disciplinarian, the Scotsman is sure to make his displeasure known after the gloss was removed from his winning start.

With the visit to Southampton looming large, Shearer was accompanied on the bench by strike partner Craig Bellamy as Kluivert and Shola Ameobi were given an early chance to impress.

Shay Given's 40th continental appearance made him Newcastle's leading European participant of all time, a stark contrast to Sakhnin's players, who made history by becoming Israel's first Arabic representatives when they beat the Albanians of Partizani Tirana to reach the first round.

Newcastle had provided a bus to transport their opponents to Tyneside after they landed at Heathrow this week, and that show of charity was reciprocated on the field as the Sakhnin defence contrived to hand Newcastle a third-minute lead.

Israeli right-back Avi Danan cleared straight to Laurent Robert and, while Kieron Dyer failed to control the Frenchman's low centre, Sakhnin goalkeeper Energy Murambadoro palmed the ball straight to Kluivert, who calmly side-footed into the gaping net.

It was tempting to think that the wonderfully-named keeper had suffered an early power cut given his inability to deal with a straight-forward cross.

But he made partial amends less than a minute later by keeping out Jermaine Jenas' low strike after the midfielder surged through a gaping hole in the backline.

Similar gaps appeared in the visitors' defence all night and, while Murambadoro again did well to turn over Kluivert's drive from the edge of the area, the Zimbabwean international was helpless when the striker flashed an 18th-minute volley wide following another horrific mix-up from Newcastle's opponents.

United were hardly rampant on a somewhat subdued night, with Sakhnin's part-timers - who enjoy an annual wage bill broadly comparable to what Newcastle's multi-millionaires earn in a week - more than matching their hosts for energy and effort.

Given was even forced into action midway through the first half, parrying Abas Suan's low drive, and, with Robert and Dyer drifting in from their respective flanks, the hosts found themselves crowded out of a congested midfield area.

The two supposed wingers combined shortly before half-time but, after surging into the Sakhnin box, Dyer could only steer Robert's driven cross over the top.

Things are generally going awry when the Frenchman starts taking 40-yard pot shots but, from the corner that followed one of his more adventurous efforts, Newcastle doubled their lead.

Kluivert met Robert's delivery with aerial aggression and, after rattling off both crossbar and post, his 41st-minute header eventually found its way over the line.

The Dutch international has had few chances to impress since his summer move from Barcelona.

But his European experience shone through as United forged ahead.

Unfortunately the same could not be said for Butt, as the former Manchester United midfielder's European debut in a black and white shirt lasted for just 133 seconds before he was given his marching orders by Portuguese referee Antonio Costa.

Sakhnin skipper Suan had already been booked when he caught Kluivert from behind.

Although the foul was unnecessary, Butt's idiotic reaction was even more needless.

The substitute came rushing from nowhere to push Suan to the floor.

While the Israeli hit the ground somewhat theatrically, there was no excuse for such reckless behaviour from a seasoned England international.

The subsequent melee was equally as senseless, with Souness himself taking the field in an attempt to becalm his players.

Coach Dean Saunders had to manhandle Butt down the tunnel as the player saw red in every sense.

Butt was only on the pitch because of a hamstring injury to Dyer and, with the game reduced to ten-a-side, the Magpies failed to add to their tally.

Robson's final month as Newcastle manager was beset by accusations of ill discipline behind closed doors.

It was perhaps fitting that Souness' reign began with such a public display of petulance.

Result: Newcastle United 2 Bnei Sakhnin 0.

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.