NEWCASTLE striker Shola Ameobi last night revealed his frustration at being unable to hold down a place in Sir Bobby Robson's side.

The 22-year-old has started just four games for the Magpies since returning from a fractured cheekbone in mid-January.

But two of those appearances came in last week's wins over Charlton and Real Mallorca that took Newcastle back into the top four and saw them reach the last eight of the UEFA Cup.

Ameobi was an integral part of both victories but, with Craig Bellamy back in contention for Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Bolton, he found himself unceremoniously dumped to the bench.

The England Under-21 international was similarly left out after scoring in last month's 3-1 win over Leicester and, with Newcastle struggling to score on their travels, admits to becoming increasingly disillusioned with his lack of opportunities.

"I think every time I have been given a chance, I have done myself justice," said Ameobi. "That makes it that much harder to deal with it when you're left out.

"It (being dropped) has been a regular occurrence this season. You get disappointed when you get into the team, do well, but still get left out.

"It's not a nice feeling. I was really disappointed about it, but there's nothing I can do about it.

"It was the manager's decision - but I have to say that I'm very disappointed."

After making his senior debut in a goalless draw with Chelsea in September 2000, this was expected to be the season that Ameobi moved on to the next level and became a fixture in the Newcastle side.

But, instead, he has proved unable to break up Bellamy's strike partnership with Alan Shearer and has even found himself having to battle with loan signing Michael Bridges for the role of third-choice centre-forward.

"In August I just hoped to kick on to the next level," said Ameobi. "But that didn't seem to happen in the first half of the season.

"Since Christmas, I've come back and I've worked really hard to try to get my form back."

Ameobi made an 18-minute substitute appearance at the Reebok Stadium but, with Bellamy complaining of more hamstring trouble in the latter stages of Sunday's game, he could yet find himself restored to the starting line-up when Everton visit St James' Park on Saturday.

Last weekend's defeat saw Newcastle move a point behind Liverpool in the race for the final Champions League spot and, with just eight games left to play, they can ill-afford another slip-up against David Moyes' side.

United's impeccable home form has kept them in Champions League contention since the turn of the year, and Ameobi accepts that Saturday's game has become a must-win encounter.

"We have to beat Everton," said Ameobi. "There are just eight games left now.

"The manager has given us a couple of days off and, hopefully, we can come back refreshed and ready to go.

"We've had chances over the season to brush these teams off - but we haven't done it.

"The rest of the games are crucial to us now. With the likes of Aston Villa and Birmingham doing so well, these are games we have to be winning, especially with Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool still to play.

"They will be very tough games, but we'll be looking for nine points from them.

"Going to somewhere like Bolton and losing doesn't help us though. But we'll keep going until the last kick of the last game of the season and give it everything we've got to try to get that last Champions League spot."

* Newcastle have confirmed their rescheduled fixtures for the Easter weekend. The home game with league leaders Arsenal has been brought forward 24 hours to Sunday, April 11, while the away game with Southampton is now the penultimate game of the season on Wednesday, May 12.

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