SIR BOBBY ROBSON was last night facing a massive striker headache after Lomano LuaLua confirmed he intends to play in the forthcoming African Nations Cup.

With Craig Bellamy expected to be out for another three months with a knee injury, Robson is set to lose Congo captain LuaLua for much of January and February.

That would place a huge burden on the shoulders of Alan Shearer and Shola Ameobi, with only the inexperienced Michael Chopra and £7m misfit Carl Cort as cover up front.

Robson, who has had a number of club versus country run-ins with Peru's Nobby Solano in recent years, is unlikely to take kindly to LuaLua's decision to represent Congo in the New Year.

LuaLua, 22, said: "I just want to play football, and if going to the African Nations Cup helps me do that then it would be a great experience.

"It's a big competition and to be given the captaincy of your country is great. I want to go there and hopefully prove myself.

"Hopefully, the manager will be watching and seeing what I'm capable of doing."

Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce, who will lose his skipper Jay-Jay Okocha to Nigeria for the duration of the tournament, has called for the Premiership to shut down during January to lessen the blow of losing players to international call-ups.

LuaLua made his first start of the season in last Wednesday's Carling Cup defeat to West Bromwich Albion and Robson admitted he was impressed by the elusive striker.

"He came into a very pressurised environment and played very well from the halfway line up to their six-yard box," Robson said.

"He kept it more simple than I've ever seen him and did his party pieces sensibly.

"He didn't lose the ball through trying to beat too many players too often.

"He gets very few opportunities - he's our fourth-choice striker - and I don't think it's easy for a young player to come in at this level and immediately be the finished article.

"I think with regular games, which he's not getting, he'd get better."

LuaLua agrees that he needs an extended run in the Newcastle side to prove his true worth to the club.

He said: "I can't really do anything in one game; people deserve a run in the team to show what they can do.

"I don't think you can judge someone on one game. Shola Ameobi started the season poorly but he got more confident with the more games he played.

"I still believe Newcastle haven't seen the best of me. if I'm given the chance, I think I could do well.

"I'd like to think I've got a future here. But I want the chance to show what I'm capable of doing."

Robson will decide today is Kieron Dyer will fly to Switzerland tomorrow with his teammates for Thursday's UEFA Cup tie in Basel.

Dyer has recovered from a hamstring injury, suffered in the win at Middlesbrough on October 18.

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