Leon king as striker hits a hat-trick for Magpies

IF Sunday was about proving Newcastle United were not a one-man team, then last night showed they can actually cope in the absence of both of their first-choice strikers.

Perhaps a comprehensive 5-0 win did arrive against a West Ham United team struggling in the relegation zone and in severe danger of having manager Avram Grant sacked, but Leon Best finally delivered in Newcastle’s hour of need.

With both Andy Carroll and Shola Ameobi, who scored the winner at Wigan, looking on from the sidelines, Best struck his first, second and third goals for club – and his first in almost a year – to grab his first senior hat-trick.

His first two were both laid on by strike partner for the night Peter Lovenkrands, who completed the rout with the fifth after Kevin Nolan and Best had well and truly burst West Ham’s bubble.

For Best the hat-trick could not have arrived at a more prominent time. With manager Alan Pardew keen to bring in another striker this month, Best has been expected to be one of those to make way.

But even if he is deemed available by his boss – and on the evidence of this display he should be thinking otherwise – there could now be a number of other clubs looking to hand him a fresh start.

It was the start to the new year the St James’ Park hierarchy must have dreamed of.

It is a rare occurrence that managing director Derek Llambias speaks in the match-day programme notes, but he started 2011 by outlining his vision for the year ahead.

He expressed satisfaction at the success of 2010, most of which was under Chris Hughton, but felt further “progress” could be made on the pitch in the next 12 months.

Whether that is achievable will depend on the calibre of the players Pardew is allowed to bring in, but last night was all about one of last year’s signings impressing after being given a rare chance.

Best was handed his first Premier League start in the absence of both Carroll and Ameobi, which represented only his seventh league start in almost a year with the Magpies.

And the 24-year-old almost had the perfect start. When Joey Barton floated over a teasing centre inside four minutes, Best rose unmarked but flicked an effort wide with his head.

But once goalkeeper Steve Harper had got down low to parry a drive from former team-mate Scott Parker, Best did not have to wait too much longer for that elusive goal.

A goal never looked on when Joey Barton punted a hopeful ball forward from deep inside his own half.

Then the striker’s failure to beat James Tomkins in the air actually turned out to be to his benefit.

Lovenkrands, again only in the team because of injuries, picked up the loose ball, flicked over the top of the defence and Best pounced to strike the bouncing ball low and beyond Robert Green.

It was the mark of a striker full of confidence, unlike the one who has struggled to make any sort of impact at St James’ Park at both Championship and top-flight level since his £1.5m switch from Coventry.

West Ham pushed the ball around neatly occasionally, with Parker trying to get a hold of things in the middle.

Their final pass let them down time and time again, paving the way for Newcastle to hit them on the break.

Jonas Gutierrez had already stung the palms of Green from 18 yards before Newcastle added the second six minutes before half-time.

Barton’s quick free-kick caught out everyone except Lovenkrands. His burst down the line and cross was palmed off Danny Gabbidon by Green, but Best was on hand to drill low in to the centre of the net.

There was still time before the interval for a third. The outstanding Cheik Tiote’s pass to the wing found Gutierrez, whose centre was half cleared by the disappointing Tomkins. An alert Nolan instantly side-footed in to Green’s bottom left for his ninth of the campaign.

Such a handsome lead led to Grant, whose position will be in further doubt this morning, pushing three men up front for the second half, with both Valon Behrami and Victor Obinna asked to support Carlton Cole.

It did bring temporary improvement.

But Newcastle never looked in any real danger, with Mike Williamson slotting in to a solidly performing backline when Steven Taylor was forced off through injury.

And that paved the way for Newcastle to further humiliate the hapless Hammers.

Nolan’s quick turn off Barton’s pass was brought under control by Best, who then powered a perfect strike past Green for his hat-trick.

That arrived on the hour and then four minutes later Lovenkrands was rewarded for his own impressive display by arriving ahead of Matthew Upson at the near post to turn Barton’s delivery over the line.

Had Nile Ranger, who was a replacement for the rejuvenated Best, not somehow turned his shot from six yards wide when he was left with the whole goal to aim at, West Ham’s misery could have been even worse.

Match facts

Goals: Best (19mins, 1-0); Best (39, 2-0); Nolan (45, 3-0); Best (60, 4-0); Lovenkrands (64, 5-0)

Bookings: Kovac (13, foul); Hines (80, foul); Obinna (81, foul); Ben Haim (83, foul)

Referee: Mike Dean (The Wirral) 7

Attendance: 42,387

Entertainment: ✰✰✰✰

NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-2):

Harper 7; Simpson 7, Coloccini 8, Taylor 6 (Williamson 46, 6), Enrique 7; Barton 9, Tiote 9, Nolan 8, Gutierrez 6 (Ferguson 66, 5); BEST 9 (Ranger 65, 5), Lovenkrands 8. Subs (not used): Guthrie, Routledge, Perch, Krul (gk) WEST HAM UNITED (4-4-2):

Green 4; Ben Haim 4, Tomkins 3, Upson 3, Gabbidon 3; Noble 4 (Hines 70, 5), PARKER 6, Kovac 4 (Behrami 46, 5), Sears 4; Piquionne 4 (Obinna 46, 5), Cole 4. Subs (not used): Reid, Berrera, Spector, Boffin (gk)

MAN OF THE MATCH

LEON Best – a hat-trick for the man who couldn’t score a goal before last night.