SIR Bobby Robson hailed Alan Shearer's goal against Everton as the greatest of his career after the Newcastle United captain sparked his side's dramatic fightback.

Shearer's 25-yard volley hauled Newcastle level four minutes from time before Craig Bellamy secured a 2-1 victory with a late winner.

Shearer will learn today whether his club intend to appeal against the two-match suspension imposed by UEFA for elbowing Internazionale's Fabio Cannavaro last Wednesday.

But last night he was toasting another great strike that ranks alongside the best he has scored for club and country in the last decade.

Robson said: "I don't think Alan has hit a better shot in the past and I don't think he'll ever hit a better one than that.

"It was absolutely perfect - a thunderous shot. He scored a very good free-kick at Manchester United last week and I liked his volley against Aston Villa last season.

"But you won't see anything better than that because it was a perfect strike.

"It was a blur as it went past the goalkeeper."

Shearer confirmed: "That goal is up there with the top three goals I've scored.

"Dare I say it was going to take something special to equalise because Everton did very well to hold us out."

Shearer will miss Newcastle's away games against Barcelona and Bayer Leverkusen either side of Christmas if his Champions League ban stands.

Robson added last night: "We're having a meeting tomorrow to decide what to do about Alan's suspension.

"I've spoken to Alan, and I've had a minor meeting with the chairman and Russell Cushing. We'll come to a decision tomorrow

"It would be a pity if we had to go to Barcelona without Alan or Craig Bellamy."

Everton manager David Moyes was left cursing Shearer's ability to produce something special after Newcastle's late show left his side empty-handed.

Moyes said: "I don't think there's a team in the Premiership, including Arsenal, who wouldn't have Alan Shearer at centre-forward."

Robson praised his side for remaining calm, despite being frustrated by Everton for so much of the afternoon.

The Newcastle boss said: "I always believed we could get something out of it.

"You've got to be a supreme optimist in football, and we didn't panic.

"We told them at half-time to keep playing their football and I'm proud that we didn't lump it forward.

"We deserved to win but Everton made it very hard for us.

"I was hating it but I was beginning to applaud the way they were defending."

Alan Shearer's famous five Newcastle goals

1 NEWCASTLE UNITED v Everton, December 1, 2002: With Newcastle heading for defeat, Shearer powered a fearsome volley past Richard Wright to put his team on course for victory.

2 NEWCASTLE UNITED v Tottenham Hotspur, April 11, 1999: Having already given Newcastle the lead in extra time, the striker drilled a drive into the top corner to confirm their place in the FA Cup final.

3 Manchester United v NEWCASTLE UNITED, November 24, 2002: There was no better way for Shearer to score his 100th Premiership goal for Newcastle than this powerful 30-yard free-kick.

4 NEWCASTLE UNITED v Aston Villa, November 3, 2001: Receiving Rob Lee's crossfield pass on the right-hand side of the Villa penalty area, Shearer defied a tight angle to volley the ball over Peter Schmeichel and inside the far post.

5 NEWCASTLE UNITED v Leicester City, February 2, 1997: With Newcastle 3-1 behind and time running out, a Shearer blockbuster from a free-kick was the first part of a hat-trick that completed an amazing 4-3 win.