SHOLA AMEOBI rescued Newcastle from a potential European embarrassment with a double strike which saw off the plucky challenge of Norwegian minnows Valerenga.

Skipper Alan Shearer's 13th goal for the Magpies in Europe, and 18th of the season, gave Sir Bobby Robson's side a 20th-minute lead in the second leg of this UEFA Cup third-round tie.

Shearer, who on the morning of the game insisted there was no problem between him and Robson following his "angry and disappointed'' outburst over his omission in Oslo a week ago, added deeds to his words last night.

But it was a contentious goal after goalkeeper Oyvind Bolthof had been penalised by Dutch referee Eric Braamhaar for drop-kicking the ball from inside the 'D'.

Jermaine Jenas rolled the resulting free-kick to Shearer, who blasted from the 18-yard line straight through the grasp of the suspect Bolthof.

Valerenga, however, the better side in the first half, equalised five minutes later through the outstanding Erik Hagen.

Player-boss Kjetil Rekdal swung over a corner from the right, Titus Bramble failed to pick up Hagen and the powerhouse defender connected with a first-time shot which found its way in off Michael Bridges on the line.

Newcastle were booed off at the interval and the mood was not helped when Craig Bellamy failed to reappear for the second period because of a hamstring injury.

But, on the night, it proved something of a blessing in disguise as replacement Ameobi restored Newcastle's lead only 71 seconds after his introduction.

He largely worked the opening for himself on the left when he cut in and beat both Hagen and Rekdal before cracking an angled, right-foot shot which the bungling Bolthof allowed to elude him.

And the England Under-21 international grabbed his second a minute from the end when Shearer hit a hopeful ball from halfway and Jenas chased it to set up Ameobi, who fired in unchallenged.

With his midfield severely disrupted by injuries to Kieron Dyer and Darren Ambrose and the controversial suspension of Lee Bowyer, Robson was forced to hand striker Bridges, on loan for the rest of the season from Leeds, his first start in a black and white shirt on the right flank.

There was a reshuffle in defence, where Olivier Bernard's ban meant Aaron Hughes switched to left-back, Andy O'Brien took over on the right and kingpin Jonathan Woodgate returned in the middle after a groin injury which had sidelined him for almost a month.

Such is the paucity of Robson's midfield resources that he has recalled Bradley Orr from his loan with First Division Burnley. Orr was among the substitutes last night, along with 19-year-old winger Martin Brittain, who came on for his senior debut as a replacement for Bridges 14 minutes from time.

The Norwegians' first-leg scorer, former Coventry midfielder Runar Normann, started on the bench after picking up a knock, with Jorgen Jalland - suspended for the initial encounter -- coming in.

Valerenga soon showed that their plucky performance at the Ullevaal Stadium was no flash in the pan when David Hanssen's fifth-minute effort provided Newcastle keeper Shay Given with an early test.

Newcastle were only able to attack spasmodically in the opening period as Valerenga, backed by a vociferous 3,000-strong following, began in spirited fashion.

It was nine minutes before the Magpies threatened when Hughes hung a ball in behind the visitors' defence and Shearer, marginally offside, chested down before forcing a point-blank save from Bolthof.

Jalland then cut inside Gary Speed before hitting a tricky shot which Given was content to claw behind.

Shearer's goal carried its fair share of good fortune, but he should have struck again three minutes later.

Jenas crossed low from the left, Bolthof looked far from assured as he pushed the ball out but Shearer could only hook over.

Valerenga then began to dominate proceedings, with Ardian Gashi's fierce right-foot shot being touched on to the bar by Given.

If that was a warning, it was one the Magpies failed to heed. A minute later, Hagen levelled and Newcastle knew for sure that they were in a game.

Striker Freddy Dos Santos ought to have made more of a fine opening when he fired well over in the 31st minute.

And ten minutes later Given gave himself a problem when he chose to take Bridges' backpass on his chest but applied a touch too much force on the ball.

It broke invitingly for Hanssen, but Given reacted quickly to hack the ball clear with the defender bearing down on him.

Given could then only hold Gashi's right-foot drive at the second attempt and a David Brocken free-kick from distance needed to be tipped over by the keeper as Newcastle lived dangerously.

But they were agonisingly close to reclaiming the lead on the stroke of half-time after Hagen had been booked for a foul on Shearer.

Robert curled his free-kick in from the left, but Bramble's glancing header drifted narrowly past the far post.

But Ameobi's early goal after the break did much to settle Newcastle, who might have gone further ahead when Bridges' strike was beaten out by Bolthof and Shearer volleyed wide from O'Brien's cross.