NEWCASTLE skipper Alan Shearer hailed a super show from Kieron Dyer, with the captain immediately paying tribute to the hard work the England international has put in on the training ground over the past few months.

Dyer was getting back somewhere near his best at Elland Road, creating three of the goals through his non-stop running.

Playing in what Bobby Robson sees as his best position in central midfield, Dyer, in only his fifth game back after ten months of shin injuries, helped turn the game back in Newcastle's favour after the Magpies went 3-1 down.

Shearer said: "Kieron Dyer was fantastic and I don't know where he gets the energy from.

"He kept on making those long runs and it's a testimony to how hard he's worked in the last few weeks. He's a big player for us and he's done very well for us this week."

Dyer also impressed his manger Bobby Robson who backed him as a World Cup player.

"He'll do that at a higher level, he'll make those breaks," said Robson.

"Look at the first goal. He broke out of midfield getting beyond the last man .

"Dyer's a new player his best position was there today."

With Dyer in midfield, alongside attack-minded players like Nolberto Solano and Laurent Robert, Gary Speed finds himself playing a more holding role in the middle.

And Shearer believes Speed has been a rock in the centre of the park for the Magpies.

"Gary Speed has held us together in the last few weeks and without Robert Lee he's been asked to play a slightly deeper role," said Shearer.

"He was fantastic against Arsenal and great again in the face of some very talented Leeds' midfielders."

But it's not in midfield where manager Bobby Robson has major problems despite Robert Lee's groin injury.

A more pressing concern is Greek defender Nikos Dabizas's broken nose and gashed leg which will definitely keep him out of the Boxing Day home game against Middlesbrough. Shearer believes Mark Viduka who clashed twice with Dabizas - firstly a stray elbow hitting Dabizas in the face before a crude lunge just before half-time - was a lucky man to stay on the pitch.

"On another day Mark Viduka would have been sent off," said Shearer.

"He's a top drawer player and an excellent centre-forward. But it's not nice to see tackles like that.

"I don't think the elbow could be helped. Those things happen in football and we can't do it without raising our arms.

"It was the poor tackle which followed that really angered me. It was late and he left his foot in."

Without Dabizas Newcastle face an even tougher Christmas schedule with the Tyne-Tees derby on Boxing day followed by the visit of Chelsea on Saturday, before the big one at Old Trafford on January 2.

And Shearer believes it is now up to the whole Newcastle squad to battle to stay at the top of the Premiership.

"We'll stay there as long as we can and if we slip up it would not be for the want of trying," he added.

"We are enjoying being top of the table. European football has to be our aim because of the giant strides we have made in the early part of the season."

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