SIR BOBBY ROBSON has admitted he could rest skipper Alan Shearer for Newcastle's game at Tottenham on Wednesday in a shock move.

Magpies boss Robson revealed that striking talisman Shearer is feeling the effects of a gruelling schedule of seven appearances in a month.

Shearer has scored five goals in that time as Newcastle have climbed to third in the Premiership.

But the former England captain was a shade jaded after Wednesday's hard-fought home victory over relegation-threatened Bolton, during which he needed treatment after being winded in a goalmouth duel with opposing skipper Gudni Bergsson.

Robson, mindful that a demanding derby visit to Middlesbrough in a week's time precedes a monumental home game against leaders Arsenal eight days later, is now tempted to take Shearer out of the firing line for the clash with Spurs.

England Under-21 international Shola Ameobi, who has grabbed five goals this season even though he has started only eight games, is on stand-by.

Ameobi scored and was impressive when he deputised for the suspended Shearer in the 3-1 Champions League defeat in Barcelona in December.

And Robson knows he will have to call on Ameobi again as Shearer completes his UEFA ban, and Craig Bellamy serves the second of a three-match suspension, when the Geordies visit Bayer Leverkusen on February 18 - the manager's 70th birthday.

Although Shearer is sure to resist any plan to leave him out - he has started all but three games this season - Robson is anxious to protect his 17-goal leading scorer.

"Alan is fine, but he's 33 this year,'' stressed Robson. "Manchester United rest Ruud van Nistelrooy, Liverpool rest Michael Owen and Arsenal rest Thierry Henry.

"We haven't really done that with Alan yet and he looked a little leggy towards the end of the Bolton game. I have to think about that and look after him.

"Alan has been magnificent, but in Shola we have a good replacement and maybe he'll get a little sniff.

"We ran miles in the game against Manchester City last week. Our energy level dropped in the second half against Bolton because of last Saturday.

"We've got a rest now and we need it. Imagine if we'd said to Tottenham that we'd play them this weekend like they asked us to do.

"We can just breathe a sigh of relief now that we've picked up the six points we needed and we have a break.

"The lads are tired and we need a week to recover.''

Carl Cort is out of contention after being hit by a new injury blow.

The former England Under-21 striker, signed by Robson from Wimbledon for £7m two-and-a-half years ago, is suffering a knee problem.

Cort has already been sidelined for lengthy spells with hamstring, ankle and knee injuries.

* Goalkeeper Steve Harper faces a three-match ban after being sent off for violent conduct in Newcastle Reserves' 2-1 home defeat by Blackburn Rovers.

Shay Given's No 2 is now due to be unavailable for the crucial Premiership games against Arsenal, Leeds and Chelsea.

Harper has protested his innocence after being shown the red card for appearing to kick out at Blackburn striker Jimmy Corbett.

Forgotten Dutchman John Karelse, recruited by former boss Ruud Gullit shortly before his sacking in August 1999, is likely to take Harper's place on the bench.

* Newcastle were yesterday set to press their £10m interest in Leeds centre-back Jonathan Woodgate.

Magpies chairman Freddy Shepherd, back from Brazil where he failed to prise World Cup-winning midfielder Kleberson away from Atletico Paranaense, was due to have talks with Leeds counterpart Peter Ridsdale.

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