THE dreaded vote of confidence in football is about as welcome as the administrators with a winding up order.

For a manager it usually spells imminent departure or, at best, a move upstairs and far away from anything remotely to do with team affairs.

When it's given to players, however, it becomes a completely different animal.

After Sir Bobby Robson had watched Shola Ameobi run rings around the Portsmouth defence for 80 minutes and grab his second goal in four games, he appeared more than happy to hand the striker what appeared to be football's longest contract.

"He's a ten-year investment," said Robson of the player who turned 22 earlier this month.

"He's a Newcastle boy, he's come from the Academy and he's one of our own. The crowd know that and I like that.

"We've liked him for two years and the fact that Craig's (Bellamy) out for four months gives him an opportunity.

"He must see a bit of daylight ahead and he must grasp his chance."

His goal against Middlesbrough appears to have rejuvenated the England Under-21 international, born in Nigeria but raised in the East End of Newcastle.

On Saturday he was outstanding - with the words of his manager still ringing in his ears.

After the Fulham game Robson praised his 6ft 2ins striker but still called on him to cut out playing like a boy.

There was certainly no indication of the boy Ameobi against Portsmouth. After just 27 seconds Laurent Robert found the striker bearing in on goal. He took one touch before firing a left-footed shot that former Magpies 'keeper Shaka Hislop turned past the post.

His strike partner, Alan Shearer, then got in on the act only to have a good shout for a penalty turned away after seven minutes.

There appeared to be clear trip by Boris Zivkovic on the former England skipper only for referee Paul Durkin to wave away appeals.

Ameobi should have made it 1-0 after 13 minutes when Robert's corner found him unmarked but he put his header wide of the target.

Soon after Newcastle were one up with Ameobi this time creator in chief.

Taking a ball in his stride on the left from Gary Speed, he expertly skipped inside Sebastian Schemmel and cut the ball back into the box.

Lee Bowyer slipped the ball to Robert who laid it into the path of the on-rushing Speed to crack his first goal of the season past Hislop from 25 yards.

It was a fitting end to a great opening spell from Newcastle, but ten minutes later it could have been all square.

There was no danger when Aaron Hughes picked up possession in his own half on the right but somehow he handed possession to Yakubu Ayegbeni.

The Nigerian weaved his way into a shooting position only to fire straight at Shay Given.

The scare appeared to gee up Newcastle who hit their second soon after following good work between Bowyer and Jermaine Jenas.

Jenas made a surging run down the right and his cross was half-cleared by Dejan Stevanovic to Bowyer.

He fired an effort straight at goal only to find the body of the Serbian blocking the ball's path to the net.

This time Durkin did point to the spot in what appeared to be a harsh decision.

Shearer stepped up and made it ten for the season and at the same time become the Premiership's top scorer.

The former England strike-partner of the Newcastle skipper, Teddy Sheringham, then engineered the visitors' best chance of the game.

He played a one-two with Gateshead-born Steve Stone only to see his shot turned away at full-stretch by Given.

It would have been tough on Newcastle if Harry Redknapp's side had gained an undeserved foothold, and any semblance of comeback was extinguished on the hour.

Speed floated a ball in and Ameobi's looping header found a flat-footed Hislop just too far off his line.

There was a strong hint of own-goal as he challenged with Arjan de Zeeuw but it was still well deserved and, as Robson explained, something they'd been working on.

"We've done a lot of work with him (Ameobi) in the air and his heading has improved," said Robson, who appears certain to pick up October's manager of the month award.

"He's a big guy and he should be difficult to handle.

"I've told him 'as long as you do it you'll be in the team'."

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