CRAIG BELLAMY has echoed manager Bobby Robson's belief that Newcastle fans should cherish Alan Shearer because they may never see his like again.

Bellamy hopes to be back in attacking tandem with his skipper at some stage tonight as Shearer bids to reach yet another career milestone when struggling Fulham visit St. James' Park.

The former England captain is only one short of becoming the first player to score 200 Premiership goals - a record Robson reckons might stand in perpetuity.

Shearer has already passed one major goal landmark this season, entering the Magpies' Hall of Fame as the ninth player in their history to net a century.

The talismanic Geordie's 22 goals this season have prompted calls for him to come out of self-imposed international retirement and front England's World Cup crusade.

But, at 31, and after a career-saving knee operation nearly a year ago, Shearer is just content to be banging in the goals for his home-town club.

Since his £6m arrival from Coventry last summer, Welsh international Bellamy has forged a fruitful partnership with Shearer.

A knee tendon problem, not dissimilar to the one that forced Shearer to make Euro 2000 his England swansong, has sidelined 15-goal Bellamy for the past six weeks.

But he could make his comeback as a substitute tonight and is relishing any chance to help Shearer write another chapter in his incredible career.

Bellamy said: "When Alan Shearer hangs up his boots, I can say it has been a privilege to play alongside him.

"It'll be the same when Bobby Robson retires. I can say it has been a privilege to play under him.

"Alan is a rare player - you can't teach him anything. He's just a goalscorer and in the future there will not be many like him.

"It is remarkable he has got his goals despite not playing for a really top club. It's not as though he has played for Manchester United where you get loads of chances.'' Bellamy admits that his first season on Tyneside has been a revelation. "Bobby Robson has made a marvellous difference to my game,'' he said. "He's not just a good manager, he's a good coach as well.

"I have exceeded all my own expectations. I started well and I wanted to keep going, but I thought there would be a dip.

"But I am so fortunate the way we play as a team. I kept up my performances right up to my injury and that is the most satisfying thing about my season.

"At other times, when I was at Norwich, I might be brilliant in one game and then go missing for a few matches.

"But I am much more consistent now. It's all about hitting that level.

"The Coventry experience knocked my confidence a bit. I wanted to be a top player there, and at times I did wonder whether I had set my sights too high.

"Coventry was character-building; this move has been about rebuilding confidence.

"I have enjoyed every minute of this season. I know what it means to win games because I have been on the receiving end in the past.

"My goal in the home game against Sunderland at the start of the season was crucial because it got the fans on my side.'' Bellamy's last appearance was in the victory at Sunderland on February 24, and Robson insisted: "We won't risk him if he is not fully fit.

"If he is fit we'll start him on the bench. I know we scored six goals without him against Everton, but he has been a miss.'' Robson rates Bellamy one of his best-ever buys. "He has been a fabulous player for us all season,'' said the Magpies' boss.

"He's a good foil for Alan and we have not been able to quite replace him.

"Bellamy is high on the list of my best buys, and I don't think I've done badly over the years.

"I tried to buy him two years ago at Norwich. We had a deal, but we lost him.

"He was struggling at Coventry but I always had faith in him and when they went down I thought the time was right to go in for him.

"He has probably doubled his value since he came here. He has got goals and made goals and he has been a great buy.'' Robson says he will be "praying'' that Shearer scores.

"It would be fabulous if Alan got his 200th at St James' Park,'' he said.

"It would be a phenomenal feat. He has come back from a very serious operation and he hasn't had a rest this season.

"He's a great skipper and he has shown great personality. Nobody is more deserving of that goal than Alan and I will be praying for him.

"I'm sure the lads will be trying to lay one on. It has been a privilege for me to be his manager because I hardly knew him before I came here.

"He has been a marvellous pro and a great leader. He's a strong lad. It's a phenomenal record and it will take some beating.

"But he's not finished yet. Hopefully he has another 40 goals in his locker.'' Robson, meanwhile, insists he expects Laurent Robert to still be a Newcastle player next season.

Chelsea are claimed to be keen on the enigmatic French winger, who had a dressing-room fall-out with his teammates after the defeat at Liverpool a month ago when he was accused of not pulling his weight.

Robert and was also critical of his colleagues following last week's game at Aston Villa.

But Robson, who paid Paris St. Germain £9.5m for Robert last summer, said: "I know nothing about any Chelsea interest.

"I would expect him to stay here. I think we have a wonderful player and if anybody wants to buy him it's going to cost a lot of money."

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