NEWCASTLE manager Sir Bobby Robson has warned that no player is exempt from his ruthless streak - not even his skipper Alan Shearer.

Robson wielded the axe again on Saturday, bringing in Jonathan Woodgate, Aaron Hughes and Gary Speed with Andy O'Brien, Olivier Bernard and England international Jermaine Jenas making way.

And with Newcastle 3-1 up on Saturday, Robson decided to replace Shearer with Shola Ameobi - only the second time the captain has been substituted in Premiership games this season. Robson is keen to utilise the ever-growing squad he has assembled, and has made sure all his players know they are playing for their places.

"It's a pool game and we've got to understand that," said Robson.

"I left Olivier Bernard and Andy O'Brien out after both had done well on Wednesday. I decided to bring Gary (Speed) back and leave Jenas out. That hurt me because Jenas is such a fantastic boy and he played so well Wednesday.

"But I've done the right thing. He's played three games in ten days and I knew on the bench I had Jenas, Viana, Ameobi and O'Brien.

"We didn't have that three years ago. We've now got more choice, more options. Bernard has played three games in ten days and he's been left out.

"He's missed out and we've won 5-1. That's great because it will make him think." Shearer was keen to point out to his manager after the game that he could have scored twice late on if he had remained on the pitch.

"He said 'if you hadn't taken me off I might have got those two at the end'," said Robson.

"He's probably right because he would have deserved a goal. But it is a pool game. Alan Shearer in my opinion has been and still is the toughest, most durable, strongest centre-forward in the league.

"We never take him off, he never misses a game.

"He's given us blood all the time, he gives tremendous effort and again he's done it.

"He's battered the two centre-halves and Craig's on the end of everything.

"He did it Wednesday, he did it last weekend, this is his third match in seven days and he's 33 years of age."

The captain may not thank his manager for adding a year to his age, but the time is approaching where Shearer may find he is the one to be rested.

"I know we've got a ten day break but we have to give people a chance," said Robson.

"Shola has to get a touch, he has to get some experience." One player who may have been surprised to start was Titus Bramble, whose error on Wednesday led to Patrick Kluivert opening the scoring for Barcelona.

But a little amateur psychology was Robson's reasoning behind Bramble's inclusion.

"I kept Titus in because he made the mistake (against Barcelona)," said the manager.

"I told him I'm not leaving you out because you made the mistake, I'm keeping you in because you made the mistake. He had the confidence off me to go out and play again. Some managers would have left him out for making such an horrendous error. For me that is not the way back for Titus. Andy's (O'Brien) suffered not Titus."

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