SHOLA AMEOBI has devised a masterplan that will prove he is capable of becoming Newcastle United's new No.9 next season - and it includes shedding his nice guy image.

Despite being blessed with an enormous amount of potential in his earlier days at St James' Park, Ameobi has only been able to show the true extent of his ability in patches.

But, after two impressive displays have helped Glenn Roeder to successive victories as caretaker manager, Ameobi believes he is ready to finally show to Newcastle's supporters how good he is.

Appearances have been restricted this season, an ongoing hip problem contributed to that, but his form has never really gained a large degree of consistency.

That is something Ameobi is hoping will come with a little help from a more Alan Shearer-style approach to life as a centre-forward.

And, with Shearer due to retire in May, he is taking advice from the great man and a number of others, including a sports psychologist, to ensure he becomes a household name on Tyneside.

"I need to add aggression to my game, it's something we've talked about and it's paying dividends with controlled aggression," he said. "Alan's always telling me how to dominate centre-halves and he feels that's something I need to do. It's not so much kicking people, just having that physical presence and being dominant against opponents, physically wearing them down and that can win you games.

"It's something I feel every player should have anyway. I'm not saying I don't give 100 per cent every time I step onto the pitch but I can improve.

"I'm naturally laid back, I don't get worked up about too many things and aggression has to come from within.

"In the last four months I've been seeing someone to try to focus my mind. Football's 70 per cent in the mind."

Having signed professional terms with Newcastle in 2000, Ameobi has had plenty of time to take advice from the legendary Shearer, Newcastle's all-time record goalscorer.

The 24-year-old realises that Shearer's heroics over the past decade are almost impossible for any striker to repeat, let alone one who is known more as a target-man than a poacher.

Nineteen goals in 72 Premiership appearances illustrate how Ameobi needs to show more prowess in front of goal if his chances of filling the void left by the retiring Shearer next season are to improve.

"I can still learn from Alan while he's here," said Ameobi, whose goal at Aston Villa last weekend was only his third of the campaign.

"I've been too nice on the pitch in the past because of my nature, that's been a down point of my game. I need to be more aggressive and it will benefit me and the club if I can.

"As a striker you have to be selfish at times.

"Maybe in the past I would have passed and I need to be more selfish in the box. Last week was one of my best games in a Newcastle shirt.

"I want to be Michael Owen's partner next season. I've been given a great chance to make a case for myself and that's what I'm trying to do.

"I need to be scoring goals like Alan has done for ten years and I'm looking at that.

"It'd be a great honour to wear the No.9 shirt but following in Alan's footsteps, after what he's achieved, would be so hard.

"I'm not Alan and I'm not Jackie Milburn. I focus on my own game and don't put unnecessary pressure on myself."

Ameobi, whose only other two goals this season came in the 3-2 derby win over Sunderland in October, has long been admired by Sven Goran Eriksson for the way he used to perform for the England Under-21s.

But, after failing to make the sort of progress he would have liked in recent years, the Nigerian-born forward will be spending the summer watching the World Cup from the comfort of his own living room.

Eriksson had regularly talked up Ameobi's chances of playing for his country, but the hip problem he still suffers from severely restricted form.

He has avoided surgery, for now, and takes injections in a bid to ease the pain which could reduce the discomfort for the long haul. With one hurdle overcome, Ameobi is focused on the next - holding down a regular first team place by showing he can fill Shearer's boots