Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer was nonetheless on the peak of his powers on the flip of the millennium, with the England striker hitting 95 targets throughout 5 seasons between 1999 and 2004.
By 2000, Shola Ameobi was breaking into the Newcastle first crew as an 18-year-old, studying from the very best. He began 12 consectuive video games within the 2000/01 season as primary strikers Alan Shearer and Carl Cort have been each out injured, and appeared an amazing prospect for the long run at St. James’ Park.
The 2003/04 marketing campaign is the place Ameobi really managed to get a run of video games beginning in a Newcastle shirt, however his lack of targets in the end began seeing different strikers most well-liked forward of him. Whereas Ameobi by no means anticipated to start out forward of Shearer, he did really feel like he deserved extra alternatives to show his price within the beginning XI.
Newcastle United substitute standing ‘grinded’ on Ameobi
Ameobi celebrates at Newcastle (Picture credit score: Alamy)
“Early on, Shearer was fairly rightly the primary man, and I suppose I accepted the actual fact I used to be backup to him and Bellamy and that I’d be a sub most of the time,” Ameobi admits to FourFourTwo .
“In Premier League historical past, solely three or 4 gamers have made extra substitute appearances than me – however have you learnt one thing? I hated the position. It actually grinded on me.”
As the previous striker highlights, solely James Milner, Peter Crouch, Shane Lengthy and Jermaine Defoe have extra substitute appearances than Ameobi within the Premier League.
Ameobi could not dislodge Shearer from the crew (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
“I’m seen as being fairly a laid-back man, however I can inform you that after three or 4 years, I had quite a lot of chats with numerous bosses about my position,” Ameobi provides. “I wasn’t afraid to inform them that I felt I wasn’t getting the alternatives I deserved.
“Don’t get me mistaken: I by no means thought I ought to be forward of Alan. However because the years wore on, I thought of myself a first-team participant and tried to make my case at any time when I wanted to.”
In complete, Ameobi got here off the bench 142 instances in England’s high flight, whereas he began 170. In these appearances he bagged 79 targets, a determine that’s definitely a gripe he has from his profession.
Ameobi by no means really managed to hit double figures in a Premier League season, and when requested if he was prolific sufficient in entrance of purpose, Ameobi is unequivocal in his reply.
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“No,” he admits. “After I take a look at my profession [league] document and see ‘70’ alongside my title, I realise that it ought to have been extra. I actually don’t like that stat.
“In my defence, I used to be by no means an out-and-out goalscorer – my recreation was as a lot about assists, bringing team-mates into play and decoy runs as placing the ball within the internet. However I undoubtedly wasn’t as ruthless as I ought to have been. I by no means had that killer intuition and selfishness of a pure striker.
“I heard Alan say just lately that he’d moderately rating a hat-trick in a 4-3 loss than stroll off goalless after a 1-0 win. That wasn’t me.”
