PATRICK KLUIVERT can head into his first day's training with Newcastle United safe in the knowledge that Alan Shearer is relishing the prospect of teaming up.

After officially becoming a Newcastle player on Wednesday, the Dutchman was given the rest of the week to pack his bags in preparation for a new life on Tyneside.

Kluivert is expected to train with his new teammates for the first time on Monday, as manager Sir Bobby Robson tries to accommodate his new signing and Shearer in the same side.

Robson also has Shola Ameobi, who recently signed a new five year deal, Welsh international Craig Bellamy and promising striker Michael Chopra pushing for the two front places.

There are major doubts about whether Kluivert and Shearer can play together in the same team, as the latter enters his final season before retiring from the game.

But Shearer is convinced the pair, with their own massive reputations, can hit it off in the Premiership and shoot the Magpies back into the Champions League.

"Patrick Kluivert is really a big-name signing for us and he has a fantastic record as far as scoring goals is concerned," Shearer said.

"Not only that, but he will come here next week with a lot of big club experience behind him with Ajax, AC Milan and Barcelona, as well as all his caps for Holland. All in all, this should be a very good signing for us.

"It's sometimes difficult when you have two main frontline strikers who are both firing from the same pistons and looking for goals.

"But having said that, I feel that myself and Patrick should be able to form a good partnership if we are given the chance to play together."

Shearer - who has partnered the likes of Les Ferdinand, Chris Sutton, Teddy Sheringham and Mike Newell in the past - admits neither player has the right to be an automatic choice.

But the 33-year-old believes the competition for places can only help Newcastle in their attempt to end 35 years without a trophy.

"I have played alongside a lot of great players in my time and Patrick Kluivert is up there with the greats when you look at his goalscoring record," said Shearer.

"Certainly, without any shadow of doubt, the potential is there but I don't want to be disrespectful to the other strikers that we have at St James' Park by going on too much about what myself and Patrick Kluivert may or may not achieve together.

"We now have four very good experienced strikers in Patrick, Craig Bellamy, Shola Ameobi and myself, plus young Michael Chopra, and that's what is needed these days."

* Ajax have confirmed it is only a matter of time before Tunisian full-back Hatem Trabelsi becomes an Arsenal player for £3m.

Newcastle have been trying to sign the 27-year-old for a number of months but the Premiership champions have won the race.

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