ALAN SHEARER reached another milestone in his remarkable career when he scored his 100th goal for Newcastle as he led his side on a Worthington Cup romp against Premiership basement club Ipswich at St. James' Park last night.

United booked their place in the last eight of the competition by storming into a 4-0 half-time lead, with skipper Shearer scoring twice in the space of three minutes.

The 31-year-old former England captain, who retired from the international arena after Euro 2000, has confirmed his return to fitness from a third career-threatening injury by registering seven goals this season.

Surgery in May for a nagging tendinitis problem in his left knee has restored Shearer to something approaching his former self.

And now the Geordie talisman is again eyeing the silverware he longs to bring to Tyneside.

The floodgates opened in the 18th minute when French winger Laurent Robert grabbed his fourth goal since his £10m summer arrival from Paris St. Germain.

Shearer was the provider when the recalled Shola Ameobi added a second in the 26th minute with his fifth of the season.

Then it was Shearer's turn 11 minutes later, as he took the influential Nolberto Solano's right-wing cross in his stride to sweep home right-footed into the far corner of the net.

Solano also served up Shearer's second five minutes before half-time with a low centre from the right, which presented his captain with a simple close-range finish.

And Shearer almost crowned his night with a hat-trick when his 89th-minute free-kick struck the defensive wall and looped agonisingly wide.

Ipswich snatched a consolation goal 13 minutes from time when substitute Darren Bent, who replaced former Newcastle trainee Alun Armstrong, slid in on the end of skipper Matt Holland's through-ball to capitalise on the hesitancy of both keeper Steve Harper and centre-back Nikos Dabizas.

The surprise absence of Newcastle's Worthington hero Craig Bellamy, scorer of four goals in the competition this season, meant Ameobi had the chance to press his claims.

With Bellamy suffering a virus, 20-year-old Amoebi made his first start since scoring in the round two victory over Brentford.

Robert Lee and Robert passed fitness tests on respective ankle and hip injuries, while Shay Given, nursing a shoulder problem, and Andy O'Brien were dropped to the bench in favour of Harper and Sylvain Distin.

Injury-ravaged Ipswich, who handed former Hartlepool midfielder Tommy Miller only his second start since his £800,000 summer move from Victoria Park, carved out the first opening.

Miller linked to good effect with Jamie Clapham, whose left-wing centre was met at the far post by Jermaine Wright, but Harper had no trouble dealing with the headed finish.

Newcastle took the lead when Lee seized on a momentary lapse by Holland to slip the ball to Solano. The Peruvian wasted no time in releasing Robert on the left but, in marked contrast, the Frenchman seemed to take an eternity before drilling the ball in off the body of keeper Matteo Sereni at the near post.

Characteristic uncertainty in the Newcastle defence then had the home fans holding their breath when Aaron Hughes, with Armstrong lurking dangerously, headed the ball beyond Harper after the keeper had rushed from his line to claim it.

But the Magpies soon extended their lead and again Solano played a pivotal role, laying the ball out wide to Shearer, whose square pass was rammed past the flailing legs of Sereni by Ameobi.

French centre-back Distin saw a close-range effort blocked by Holland before Shearer went to work with devastating consequences for the troubled Tractor Boys.

Tyneside-born Armstrong was booked soon after Shearer's second when he caught Harper with a wildly high challenge in a one-on-one chase for the ball.

The former Middlesbrough striker, who figured in his side's goalless draw at the Riverside Stadium two days earlier, looked thoroughly dejected when he limped off in the 71st minute.

But Bent came on and struck after only six minutes on the field.

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